US cargo plane skids off runway while taking off at Incheon airport

A U.S. cargo plane belonging to UPS stands on a runway of Incheon international Airport after it failed to take off at Incheon International Airport on Monday night at 10: 45 p.m. / Yonhap

By Kim Da-hee

A U.S. cargo plane belonging to UPS skidded off the runway while speeding up to take off at Incheon International Airport on Monday night at 10:45 p.m.

One pilot and three crew members were on board. None was injured in the accident. The plane, flight UPS 5X61, was scheduled to fly to Alaska.

As of Tuesday 7 p.m., the plane is being held on runway 1 for investigation. The airport’s two other runways are operating normally.

The cause of the emergency has not determined yet. However, investigators believe that a malfunctioning landing gear caused the accident.

“Flights won’t be affected by the incident because of the two other runways,” an airport official told The Korea Times. “We checked the other runways for any problems due to the accident, but they are okay.”

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said it has launched an official probe.

“An investigation panel is inspecting the case, and a separate government-led team is preparing to tow the damaged aircraft,” the ministry said in a release. “It will take three months to restore the airport facilities damaged from the accident.”

The plane will be towed down the runway after the on-site investigation is concluded.