An Atlas Air Boeing 747-400 freighter today made an emergency landing at Narita Airport resulting in the temporary closure of one runway.
Flight Radar 24 data shows the aircraft took off from Narita on its way to Los Angeles at around 21:40 local time but later turned around before making an emergency landing at the Japanese airport at around 01:10.
Local press reports quote officials as saying none of the seven crew members onboard were injured.
The officials said the incident was due to an issue with the aircraft's hydraulic system. They also reported tyres were ruptured and wheels damaged.
The runway was closed for around seven hours but no major disruption was expected.
According to fleet tracking website Planespotters.net the aircraft (N404KZ) is owned by Nippon Cargo Airlines (NCA) and operated by Atlas Air.
Atlas Air said in a statement: "Following departure from Narita International Airport (NRT) on August 12, the pilots of Atlas Air Flight 5Y7106, a 747-400 cargo aircraft, received an indication that necessitated a return to NRT. The crew followed all standard safety procedures in accordance with their training and safely returned to NRT.
"At Atlas, safety is a core value and top priority. We will conduct an inspection to determine the cause of the incident, and the aircraft will be returned to service following repairs."
It is the second emergency landing made by the airline in the last couple of months.
In June, another 747-400 (N406KZ) freighter being operated by Atlas Air on behalf of NCA was forced to make an emergency landing at Hong Kong International Airport.
A preliminary report from investigators said the incident was related to a “multiple hydraulic system failure”.
Post-flight inspection indicated that number nine and number 10 tyres were shredded.
“Several hydraulic lines located in the right-hand wing landing gear wheel well were found fractured and punctured, and the fluid in hydraulic systems one, two and four was completely lost," the Hong Kong Air Accident Investigation Authority report stated.
https://www.aircargonews.net/airlines/preliminary-report-on-atlas-air-hong-kong-incident-released/
