Flight History
On 10 September 2023, an Airbus A320NEO (registration B-305J) operated by Air China was en route from Tianfu International Airport, Chengdu, China to Singapore Changi Airport. The Pilot-in-Command (PIC) was the Pilot Flying (PF), the First Officer (FO) was the Pilot Monitoring (PM), and a third pilot (PO) occupied the observer seat. At about 15:49 local time, as the aircraft descended for landing, the flight crew detected an unusual smell in the cockpit, and cabin crew reported an abnormal smell in the cabin. No ECAM indications appeared, so the crew initially attributed the smell to external air. The smell intensified, and smoke appeared in the cockpit. The crew donned oxygen masks and declared MAYDAY to the North Approach Controller (NAPP) at 16:00, requesting priority landing.
Emergency Response
NAPP vectored the aircraft toward Changi Airport. The flight crew received multiple smoke warnings: Avionics Smoke Indication, Lavatory Smoke Indication, and Forward Cargo Smoke Indication. They executed ECAM checklists, including discharging a fire extinguisher into the forward cargo compartment. The aircraft was initially cleared for an RNP approach to Runway 20L, but the crew preferred Runway 20R using an ILS approach due to lower workload. After coordination, the aircraft landed on Runway 20L. Post-landing, the crew stopped the aircraft on the runway and initiated an emergency evacuation. The Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting Service (ARFF) observed a fire at the left engine tailpipe and extinguished it.
Injuries and Damage
All 155 persons on board (9 crew and 146 passengers) evacuated safely. Nine passengers suffered minor injuries during the evacuation. The aircraft sustained unspecified damage. No fatalities were reported.
Investigation
The Transport Safety Investigation Bureau (TSIB) of Singapore classified the occurrence as a serious incident. The investigation focused on the smoke source and engine fire, but no probable cause has been stated in the provided report.