All Nippon Airways flight NH639 struck a number of runway lights during takeoff from Tokyo Haneda Airport yesterday, prompting a return to the airport.
The flight took off from runway 05. According to the country’s transport ministry, the aircraft had been lined up approximately 30 meters (about 100 feet) off the center line.
The aircraft involved is JA65AN, a 14 year old Boeing 737-800, operated by ANA Wings.
There were no injuries among the 174 passengers and crew onboard. The aircraft was unable to move on its own after returning to Haneda, and passengers had to be bused back to the terminal.
A close look at Flightradar24’s flight playback perhaps shows the aircraft significantly off to the left of the runway center line, in line with the transport ministry’s initial findings. However, note that the aircraft position, although close, isn’t always accurate.
According to reports, the lights on runway 05’s center line were off during this incident due to construction. The flight left the airport at 8:56 p.m., well past sunset in Tokyo.
In April of this year, a Japan Airlines plane struck runway lights on this same runway and aborted its takeoff. The center line lights in the April incident were also off.
Featured image via NHK.
