Turkish Airlines Flight Accidentally Passed over Central Tokyo after Problem Switching to Autopilot
14:58 JST, October 6, 2023
A Turkish Airlines plane that had departed from Haneda Airport accidentally flew over central Tokyo, including near Tokyo Tower, on Sept. 22 after deviating from its proper course, the Yomiuri Shimbun has learned.
Though the aircraft maintained a safe altitude, the Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry requested the airline company take measures to prevent any similar incidents, saying the aircraft did not follow the designated route to prevent noise in residential areas.
According to the transport ministry, Turkish Airlines Flight 199 from Haneda to Istanbul departed from Haneda Airport around 10:35 p.m. on Sept. 22, headed northwest. The regular route designated by the government requires planes turn right, to the east, as soon as possible after takeoff to fly over the Odaiba district and along the coast of Tokyo Bay.
However, Flight 199 continued to fly northwest after takeoff, prompting air traffic controllers to instruct the plane to turn right. The flight ended up passing over the area around Tokyo Tower and the Tsukiji Outer Market before making it to Tokyo Bay.
Noise meters installed by the transport ministry measured up to 83 decibels when the flight passed above the Nishi-Shinagawa area in Shinagawa Ward, Tokyo.
The company later explained to the ministry that the flight had been unable to switch from manual to autopilot after takeoff. The ministry requested that Turkish Airlines and the Turkish aviation authorities investigate the cause of the incident in detail and take measures to prevent similar cases.
The transport ministry also urged all airline companies flying to and from Haneda Airport to take precautions.
The Yomiuri Shimbun contacted Turkish Airlines for comment, but no reply was received by Thursday.
"Society" POPULAR ARTICLE
-
Cherry tree falls on man on Sanneizaka steps leading to famous Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto
-
Small Animal That Appears to be Mouse Found in Chojuku Bread Products; Some Brands on Same Production Line to be Recalled Voluntarily
-
Tokyo District Court Rules AI Cannot Be Issued Patents; Law Recognizes Only ‘Natural Persons’ as Inventors
-
Earthquake Hits Japan’s Ibaraki, Tochigi, Chiba Prefectures, No Risk of Tsunami
-
Man Repels Bear Attack in Hokkaido by Kicking its Face After Encountering 2 Bears While Sightseeing
JN ACCESS RANKING
- Weakening Yen Adds Complexity to BOJ’s Rate Hike Decisions; Rising Commodity Prices may Impact ‘Virtuous Cycle’ Efforts
- Japanese Seafood Exports to China Sink 57% in FY23; U.S. Becomes Largest Seafood Export Destination
- 70% of Japan Companies to Raise Pay Scales in FY 2024
- 48.6% of Global Patent Applications Related to All-Solid-State Batteries Came from Japanese Firms; Panasonic Tops List
- UNRWA Director Describes Catastrophic Destruction in Gaza; Says Relief Trucks Robbed, ‘People’s Hearts Destroyed’