An Atlas Air Boeing 747-400F freighter bound for Los Angeles made a precautionary return to Tokyo Narita Airport with a hydraulics issue on 13 August 2024.
On landing at the origin airport, the aircraft suffered a tyre blowout and wheel damage as a result of the technical problem.
Atlas Air 5Y7106 Tokyo-Los Angeles
Atlas Air flight 5Y7106, a Boeing 747-400F freighter bound for Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) experienced a malfunction in the hydraulic system not long after departure from Tokyo Narita Airport (NRT).
As a result, flight crew terminated the climb procedure and negotiated a direct return to the origin airport. The aircraft entered holding procedures off the coast, presumably for fuel dumping purposes to facilitate the early return to Tokyo.
Following a period of holding, the aircraft then conducted an approach and landing on RWY16R Tokyo Narita. During the landing procedure the aircraft suffered a blown tire and wheel damage.
As a result of the landing incident, Runway A was temporarily closed to traffic for approximately seven hours.
According to a report in The Mainichi, the Japanese transport ministry confirmed that seven crew members were aboard the cargo plane during the flight. There were no reported injuries as a result of the landing incident.
Flight Details
Flight data shows that the flight 5Y7106 made a delayed departure out of Tokyo Narita Airport. The flight shows a departure time of 2118 local time on 12 August.
The flight had set course normally, and had climbed to flight level FL160 (16,000 feet). Following the detection of a hydraulic issue, flight crew terminated the climb procedure.
The aircraft then initiated a direct return to Tokyo, with holding of the East Coast at 10,000 feet before the return was carried out.
The aircraft conducting the 5Y7106 service to Los Angeles was a Boeing 747-400F, registered N404KZ. This is a 17.4-year-old converted freighter aircraft belonging to the carrier Atlas Air.
It has been in operational service with the operator since August 2017. Prior to that it was operated by Nippon Cargo Airlines from March 2007.
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