A Hong Kong Airlines plane had a close encounter with another aircraft on the runway after landing at Taoyuan airport in Taiwan on Friday in what appears to have been a blunder by air traffic controllers.
The Hong Kong-based carrier later denied some Taiwanese media reports that its aircraft had landed on the wrong runway.
Hong Kong Airlines flight HX252 was carrying 161 passengers and seven crew members and left the city at about 9.15am for Taoyuan International Airport in Taiwan.
The aircraft was taxiing on the runway after landing at about 11.10am but encountered Hainan Airlines flight HU7987, with the two planes facing each other.
The Hong Kong aircraft, an Airbus A320, eventually had to be towed to the right parking space.
In a statement in the afternoon, Hong Kong Airlines said its flight was using the runway as instructed by Taiwanese air controllers.
“Hong Kong Airlines confirms that [Friday’s] flight HX252 from Hong Kong to Taipei Taoyuan Airport was taxiing in accordance with the air control tower’s instruction after landing, during which it was changed to use a tow truck to assist in towing the aircraft to the designated parking space following the air control tower’s new instruction,” it said.
