An Atlas Air cargo flight, identified as 5Y4304, encountered a significant incident on Monday when it burst a tyre upon landing, prompting the closure of Hong Kong International Airport‘s north runway. This disruption, which lasted for over eight hours, affected approximately 450 flights and raised concerns regarding the airport’s emergency response protocols.
The incident, which unfolded at 7.12am, led to the Civil Aviation Department initiating communications with aircrews at 7.36am—24 minutes post-incident—through an automated information system, informing them of the runway’s status. Further details were relayed after an hour and 17 minutes, at 8.53am, once more information was available from the Airport Authority and other relevant entities.
The cargo plane, which was bound for Anchorage, had sought permission to return to Hong Kong approximately two hours after its initial departure at 6am. Fortunately, the incident resulted in no injuries among the five crew members aboard.
Efforts to manage the situation included unloading the aircraft’s cargo and replacing the tyres, culminating in the plane’s removal from the runway at approximately 3.15pm, followed shortly by the runway’s reopening at 3.45pm.
Experts such as Ng Kam-hung, an assistant professor at Polytechnic University’s department of aeronautical and aviation engineering, described the timeframe for addressing this incident as reasonable, citing the need for a thorough on-site investigation and deployment of ground personnel to inspect the aircraft’s hydraulics.
Paul Weatherilt, chairman of the Hong Kong Aircrew Officers Association, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the rarity of such incidents and the requisite time to resolve uncertainties effectively.
A crew member from one of the affected flights reported being informed about the runway closure roughly 30 minutes before landing, suggesting that air traffic control might only have been able to communicate with some flights as they entered Hong Kong airspace.
The Airport Authority now faces calls to review and potentially revamp its contingency protocols to enhance response times and communication during such critical incidents.