'Technical issue' with Singapore Airlines jet brakes forces temporary runway closure at Narita Airport

SINGAPORE: A Singapore Airlines (SIA) plane experienced a "technical issue" with its brakes upon landing at Tokyo's Narita International Airport on Monday (Aug 12).

In response to CNA's queries, an SIA spokesperson said flight SQ638 had experienced a "technical issue" with its brakes after landing at Narita Airport at 7.38am local time.

SIA’s ground engineering team resolved the issue and replaced one of the tyres on the Boeing 787-10 aircraft, the spokesperson added. 

The Boeing 787-10 aircraft was reportedly seen with white smoke coming from its engine after landing.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said on Monday evening that it is aware of the SQ638 incident.

SQ638 was operating from Singapore to Narita on Sunday. During landing, smoke was reportedly observed by the air traffic control, CAAS said in response to media query.

"Based on preliminary findings, the aircraft suffered a technical issue with the brakes system of one of its wheels."

CAAS and SIA are looking into the cause of the technical issue, it added.

The incident involving flight SQ638 forced a runway to close temporarily on Monday, officials said, though responders found no signs of fire and no one was injured.

Runway B was closed for about 50 minutes from around 7.40am local time as the aircraft was towed away. Flight SQ638 was carrying 260 passengers and 16 crew members.

"We received a report of white smoke rising from the left engine," a Narita city fire official told AFP.

But there was no sign of fire and no one was injured, she said, adding that firefighters left the scene after observing the plane for over an hour.

The Boeing 787-10 aircraft involved in the incident may have experienced a problem as it was landing, according to Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's airport office. 

The smoke, which was reported after the flight had landed, prompted six fire engines and two ambulances to rush to the scene, an airport official told AFP.

"It communicated that there was a possibility that it experienced a problem when it landed," a spokesman at Narita Airport said.

Tyre pieces were found on the runway, the official added.

The incident meant that flight SQ637 was delayed by slightly over two hours, with the plane departing Narita Airport for Singapore at 1.28pm local time.

The plane landed safely in Singapore at 7.02pm local time.

"SIA apologises to all customers for the inconvenience caused by this incident," said the spokesperson, stressing that the safety of customers and staff is the airline's top priority.