China Airlines Flight Lands on Wrong Runway in South Korea

South Korean aviation authorities are investigating an incident involving China Airlines Flight Cl186, a Boeing 737-800, which landed on the wrong runway at Gimhae International Airport in Busan, South Korea, on Thursday evening. The aircraft was cleared to land on runway 18R but instead touched down on runway 18L, prompting an internal review by the airline.

China Airlines confirmed that the flight did not follow air traffic control instructions during landing and has launched an internal investigation to determine the cause of the error. The Taiwan Transportation Safety Board (TTSB) has also acknowledged the incident and is coordinating with South Korean authorities to assess whether a formal investigation will be conducted.

The mislanding caused delays for China Airlines Flight Cl187, which was scheduled to return from Busan to Taiwan on Thursday. Due to Gimhae International Airport's nighttime curfew, the flight was rescheduled for Friday. China Airlines assured passengers that accommodations and meals were provided, and a new crew set was assigned for the rescheduled flight.

While such occurrence are rare, they highlight the importance of strict adherence to pilot situational awareness.