On April 16, 2023, a ground-handling incident happened at Taiwan’s Taoyuan International Airport (TPE), resulting in damage to two EVA Air aircraft.
The planes involved were an empty Airbus A321-200 which was being towed, and a Boeing B777-300ER, with registration B-16740, also empty, that was parked on the runway.
The A321, with registration B-16227, was reportedly being towed by an employee of EVA Air Logistics, according to local media.
The wingtip of the A321 struck the B777’s fuselage close behind the cockpit as the driver unintentionally reached the apron while turning on the taxiway.
While carrying out a Towing operation , An Eva Air Airbus A321 aircraft (B-16227) Right winglet hit the nose area of a parked EVA Air Boeing 777-300 aircraft (B-16740) causing substantial damages to the Boeing Aircraft at Taipei airport.#safety #aviation pic.twitter.com/TYVUeVajFl
— FL360aero (@fl360aero) April 17, 2023
Photos shared on Twitter plainly reveal that both aircraft suffered damage. Near the nose of the B777, one can see the wingtip of the A321 stuck in the fuselage.
A tail strike during a failed landing in Guam in August 2021 occurred involving the same A321 aircraft.
In a statement seen by Taiwan English News, EVA Air said that it had informed the relevant authorities of the incident, and is still investigating the causes and extent of damage to the two planes.
The airline added that the accident-related personnel have been suspended.
A veces los aviones se enojan 🤷🏼♂️🤣… ayer 16 de abril, un Airbus A321 de EVA Air “le pegó un derechazo a un Boeing 777 de la misma compañía y le rompió la nariz” 🤣🤣🤣
(📸 créditos al autor) ➡️➡️ pic.twitter.com/DD9dpp3hGn
— GaboAir (@GaboAir) April 17, 2023
