Synopsis
On 24 October 2021 at about 1100 local time, a runway incursion involving a crane vehicle occurred at Changi Airport Runway 3. The runway had been closed for maintenance and was reopened earlier than planned to facilitate an aircraft arrival. The crane vehicle, operated by a contractor team, entered the runway after it had reopened. The aircraft was 23 minutes away when the vehicle was spotted and escorted away before the aircraft arrived. The Transport Safety Investigation Bureau classified the occurrence as an incident.
Factual Information
Runway 02R/20L (Runway 3) was closed from 1000 to 2300 local time on 24 October 2021 for maintenance work. Access to the runway for maintenance was via a roadway at the southern end, designated as the Runway Entry/Exit Point (REP). A REP Officer (REPO) was stationed at the REP Hut to oversee vehicle movements.
Separate from the runway maintenance, obstacle lights installation work was being carried out on a building located more than 500 meters beyond the northern end of Runway 3, outside the runway strip and runway end safety area. The work was performed by a contractor, Contractor S, on behalf of another contractor, Contractor A.
Sequence of Events
At about 0935 local time, the REPO arrived at the REP Hut, having received an email that the runway would need to reopen between 1130 and 1230 for an aircraft landing. At about 0945, a work team from Contractor S arrived, consisting of a Supervisor, a driver, and two other persons, using a crane vehicle. They were accompanied by a manager who could communicate in English and the Supervisor's native language.
The manager informed the REPO that the worksite was near the northern end but outside the runway, and that they intended to access it via Runway 3, as they had done the previous day. The manager confirmed that they were aware of the aircraft arrival and would remain at the worksite during that period, and that the crane would be lowered. The REPO agreed to call the Supervisor as a reminder before runway reopening.
Runway 3 closed at 0954. The work team entered the runway and traveled to the northern end, then used a service road with two chain barriers to reach the perimeter road and the worksite, arriving at about 1030.
At about 1037, the Changi East Tower informed the REPO to prepare for runway reopening at about 1100, 30 minutes earlier than planned. The REPO instructed a support officer to contact all vehicles on the runway by phone to vacate. The REPO herself called the Supervisor and reminded him to remain at the worksite. The Supervisor replied "Okay," but later stated that due to noise, he did not hear the instruction clearly and thought he was asked to return to the REP Hut.
After the call, the REPO conducted a final inspection on the runway, exiting at about 1053. Other vehicles vacated by 1055. Meanwhile, the work team left the worksite and re-entered the runway with the crane vehicle. The vehicle was spotted and escorted away before the aircraft arrived, which was about 23 minutes away when the incursion occurred.
Conclusions
The investigation determined that the runway incursion occurred when the contractor team left the worksite and entered the runway after it had reopened, due to a miscommunication. The Supervisor misheard the REPO's instruction, believing they were to return to the REP Hut rather than remain at the worksite.
Safety Actions
Following the incident, safety actions were taken by the aerodrome operator and the contractors involved. These actions are detailed in the official report.