Oil Leak from All Nippon Airways Plane Causes Scare at Japanese Airport

On Wednesday, a Boeing 737-800 operated by All Nippon Airways (ANA) experienced an oil leak as it landed at Shin Chitose airport in northern Japan. Despite the dramatic scene of oil spraying from the plane, ANA officials confirmed that none of the 213 people on board, including 204 passengers and nine crew members, were injured.

Officials stated that the nonflammable oil from a control system evaporated upon contact with a hot engine, creating the illusion of smoke. ANA emphasized that the leakage did not pose a safety hazard to the passengers and crew. Nevertheless, the cockpit received a warning, prompting an ongoing investigation into the underlying cause of the oil leak.

Response and Impact

Upon landing safely, the aircraft was towed to the arrival terminal, where all passengers and crew disembarked without incident. Meanwhile, the Chitose city fire department dispatched multiple fire engines to address the situation. Additionally, one of the runways at New Chitose airport had to be temporarily closed for the removal of the leaked oil.

Previous Incidents at Japanese Airports

This incident comes in the wake of previous aviation-related events in Japan. In January, a Japan Airlines (JAL) flight and a coast guard plane collided and burst into flames at Haneda Airport. Fortunately, all 379 passengers and crew members on the JAL flight survived, although the coast guard plane's pilot was injured, and five crew members lost their lives. Furthermore, during the same month, a Korean Air plane carrying 289 people collided with a parked Cathay Pacific aircraft due to a ground vehicle slipping in the snow.