South Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) is investigating an incident in which a Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300ER was forced to abort its takeoff roll owing to a reported runway incursion.

Air traffic controllers at Seoul Incheon Interational airport called on the crew of the 777 to abort the takeoff, says SIA in an email. The aircraft (9V-SWP) was operating flight SQ16 to San Francisco when the incident happened.

SIA did not provide a reason why the takeoff was aborted, and Korean Airlines declined to comment, although it did confirm that MOLIT is conducting an “extensive investigation.”

Media reports from South Korea indicate that as the SIA 777 started down the runway, a Korean Air A330 taxied onto it.

“The aborted takeoff resulted in the deflation of a number of tyres on the Boeing 777-300ER, requiring passengers to disembark from the aircraft on the taxiway,” says SIA.

Following replacement of the tires, the 186 passengers and 18 crew re-boarded the jet 19 hours later and continued their journey.

Source: Cirium Dashboard