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Key Points

An Asiana Airlines flight bound for Tokyo turned back to Incheon after sparks and smoke were seen from an engine. All 263 passengers disembarked safely as the airline began inspecting the Airbus A330-300 for possible bird strikes or mechanical faults. The incident comes amid regulatory scrutiny over Korean Air's proposed merger with Asiana, including unresolved mileage integration concerns. A replacement flight was arranged for early Sunday to comply with Narita's nighttime curfew.

Key Points: Asiana Tokyo Flight Returns After Engine Sparks Midair

  • Flight OZ108 safely landed after engine issue detected
  • No injuries among 263 passengers
  • A330-300 under inspection for bird strike or mechanical failure
  • Alternative flight scheduled for affected travelers
2 min read

Asiana flight to Tokyo turns back due to suspected engine issue

Asiana Airlines flight to Tokyo makes emergency landing at Incheon after engine sparks; 263 passengers unharmed as airline investigates potential bird strike.

"Smoke reportedly occurred after a spark appeared on one side of the engine. — Yonhap"

Seoul, June 21

An Asiana Airlines flight bound for Tokyo returned to Incheon, west of Seoul, around one hour after departure on Saturday following the detection of an engine issue, the company said.

The OZ108 flight, which had departed for Narita International Airport from Incheon International Airport at 6:49 p.m., landed at Incheon at around 7:42 p.m. under relevant safety procedures, according to the company.

There were no injuries reported among the 263 passengers aboard, it added, reports Yonhap news agency.

Smoke reportedly occurred after a spark appeared on one side of the engine.

Asiana Airlines is inspecting the A330-300 aircraft to determine the exact cause of the incident, such as whether there was an engine issue or a bird strike.

The company plans to replace the aircraft and operate an alternative flight for passengers at 4:30 a.m. Sunday, in consideration of the nighttime landing and takeoff curfew hours at Narita.

Meanwhile, South Korea's antitrust regulator said last week that it has rejected a proposed mileage integration plan submitted by Korean Air Lines Co. and Asiana Airlines Inc., citing insufficient details and consumer benefit concerns.

The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) said the plan, submitted earlier in the day as part of the carriers' broader merger plan, failed to meet the standards necessary to proceed with a formal review.

"There were shortcomings in the proposed mileage redemption plan compared to what Asiana Airlines previously offered," the FTC said. "In terms of the proposed mileage integration ratio and other explanations, we found the submission insufficient to initiate a full assessment."

The FTC requested Korean Air to immediately revise and supplement the proposal before resubmitting.

The regulator declined to disclose the details of the proposal, noting that it is considering holding consultations with stakeholders and experts at an appropriate time after revisions are made.

Public attention has been focused on the mileage integration ratio, a key component of the plan.

Flight miles are earned through actual air travel or accumulated via credit card spending, hotel partnerships and other non-flight activities.

—IANS

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rahul K.
Glad to hear all passengers are safe! ✈️ Safety should always be the top priority in aviation. This incident reminds me of similar cases we've seen with Indian airlines - proper maintenance is non-negotiable. Hope Asiana conducts thorough checks.
P
Priya M.
Scary situation! I flew Asiana last year to Seoul and had a good experience. But engine issues are serious - makes me wonder about the maintenance standards. Indian aviation authorities should take note and double-check foreign airlines operating here.
A
Arjun S.
The merger issues between Korean Air and Asiana sound complicated. Mileage programs are important for frequent flyers - hope they resolve it fairly. In India we've seen how mergers can affect customer benefits (remember Jet Airways?). Consumers shouldn't suffer.
S
Sunita R.
Good that they followed safety protocols properly. But making passengers wait till 4:30am for alternative flight is quite inconvenient no? Indian airlines usually arrange hotels in such cases. Customer service matters as much as safety.
V
Vikram J.
Bird strikes are common causes - our Delhi airport faces similar challenges. Maybe international airports need better bird control measures. Interesting to see how this develops - hope they share the investigation results transparently.
N
Neha P.
The mileage integration rejection shows regulators are doing their job properly. In India we've seen how mergers can reduce competition. Hope Korean authorities maintain strict standards like our DGCA does (most of the time at least!).

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