28-10-2024 (SINGAPORE) A Singapore Airlines Boeing 777 was forced to make an unscheduled landing in Taipei following the discovery of a cracked windscreen during its journey to Tokyo, marking a significant disruption to its scheduled service.
The aircraft, operating as Flight SQ636, departed Singapore’s Changi Airport late Sunday evening with 266 people aboard, including 249 passengers and 17 crew members. The flight, originally scheduled to arrive at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport early Monday morning, was diverted mid-route after the flight deck crew detected the windscreen damage.
In what aviation experts describe as a precautionary measure, the wide-body Boeing 777-300ER landed safely at Taiwan’s Taoyuan International Airport at approximately 4am local time. No injuries were reported during the incident.
A Singapore Airlines spokesperson confirmed the diversion, emphasising that passenger and crew safety remained paramount. “The aircraft landed without incident, and all safety protocols were properly executed,” the spokesperson stated.
The airline has undertaken extensive arrangements to accommodate affected travellers, securing hotel accommodation in Taipei while technical teams assess the aircraft. The rescheduled service, now operating under flight number SQ9876, is expected to depart Taipei at 8:30pm local time, with an anticipated arrival in Tokyo early Tuesday morning.
The incident has resulted in an estimated 18-hour delay for passengers, prompting questions about inspection protocols for the airline’s Boeing 777-300ER fleet. Aviation authorities are reportedly reviewing the circumstances surrounding the windscreen crack, though the specific cause remains under investigation.
