Due to a significant delay brought about by engine troubles, a Japan Airlines flight from Haneda to Fukuoka was unable to land within the operational hours of Fukuoka Airport on the night of June 11th. Consequently, the flight was redirected and successfully landed at Kitakyushu Airport, marking the first occurrence of such an alternate landing.
The engine problems caused a change in aircraft, resulting in approximately a three-hour departure delay. Since the flight couldn’t make it to Fukuoka Airport, which ends operations at 10 p.m., the flight had to divert to Kitakyushu Airport, landing a little after 11 p.m.
This incident follows a previous occurrence in February when a similar situation forced another Japan Airlines flight to return to Haneda Airport. After this event, plans have been underway to allow flights that miss the Fukuoka Airport operating window to land at Kitakyushu Airport, which is a 24-hour operational airport.
This was the inaugural instance of a flight having to land at Kitakyushu Airport due to Fukuoka Airport’s operational hours concluding. The majority of the 280 passengers were transported to Fukuoka city from Kitakyushu Airport via five buses provided by Japan Airlines. One passenger, a university student from Fukuoka, expressed understanding of the situation, considering Fukuoka Airport’s location in a residential area and appreciated the arrangement that allowed him to get home in time for his university classes. Source: NHK
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