What happened
On the night of February 14, 2017, a runway incursion occurred at Narita International Airport involving two large aircraft. An Airbus A330-343X, registered as HS-XTC and operated by Thai AirAsia X, was taxiing via Taxiway B3 toward runway 3 and4R for departure. During the taxi, the Air Traffic Controller (ATC) instructed the crew to hold short of the runway and warned of an expected six-minute delay. The pilot in command (PIC) acknowledged the instruction.
Simultaneously, an Airbus A330-302, registered as B-18361 and operated by China Airlines, was on final approach with landing clearance. While the departing aircraft was maneuvering, the crew of HS-XTC attempted to activate the runway turn-off lights. During this process, the First Officer mistakenly activated the strobe lights, causing a brief distraction for the PIC.
As the aircraft approached the intersection of Taxiway B9 and runway 34R, it crossed the stop line and entered the active runway. The ATC, observing the movement on the Airport Surface Display System and via visual monitoring, immediately issued a go-around instruction to the approaching B-18361. The China Airlines crew executed the maneuver approximately 2,000 meters from the runway threshold.
The investigation
The JTSB investigation analyzed flight data recorder (FDR) records, multilateration system (MLAT) data, and surveillance camera footage. The investigation focused on the positioning of the aircraft and the cockpit environment of the departing flight.
Investigators examined the physical layout of Taxiway B9, noting that the space available for stopping at the stop line is narrow, making it difficult for large aircraft to stop perpendicular to the runway. The investigation also reviewed the cockpit actions of the HS-XTC crew, specifically the interaction regarding light switch operations, and the visibility of runway markings during nighttime operations.
Findings
- The HS-XTC crew crossed the runway stop line by approximately 60 meters.
- The primary cause of the incursion was the crew of the departing aircraft failing to notice the stop line and runway guard lights because they were distracted by cockpit switch operations.
- The pilot's attention was diverted by the First Officer's error in activating the strobe lights instead of the runway turn-off lights.
- The narrow geometry of the taxiway intersection contributed to the difficulty in maintaining a standard stopping position.
- The First Officer had limited experience with departing from this specific runway, which may have impacted their ability to identify the correct stopping point.