TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (桃園機場) operations faced significant disruption on Wednesday (Aug. 13) night after a UPS cargo plane experienced a serious landing incident. Flight 5X61 suffered an engine scrape during touchdown that ignited a fire and caused the fan cowl to detach from the aircraft. The dramatic incident immediately triggered emergency response protocols at Taiwan's primary international gateway.
Airport authorities immediately shuttered the north runway and implemented single-runway operations to preserve essential airport functionality during the emergency. Aviation experts linked the incident to severe weather conditions stemming from typhoon activity in the region. Strong crosswinds or dangerous wind shear phenomena likely contributed to the aircraft's landing difficulties, according to preliminary assessments from aviation specialists.
Taipei City council member and former pilot Chang Chih-hao (張志豪) analyzed how the aircraft could have easily deviated from its approach path toward the runway, resulting in the damaging impact. Taoyuan Airport Corporation officially confirmed the engine incident occurred and immediately deployed inspection teams to examine the crash site. The airport authority simultaneously reported the serious incident to all relevant regulatory and safety oversight agencies.
The damaged cargo aircraft remains positioned at Cargo Apron 515 while awaiting a comprehensive investigation by Taiwan's Aviation Safety Council. The safety agency will establish the precise cause of the landing incident through detailed analysis. Airport operations experienced temporary disruptions, but dedicated staff continue working to guarantee runway safety and restore normal flight scheduling. ◼