TAIPEI- Authorities in Taiwan have opened an investigation into two pilots from EVA Air (BR) after they declared a mayday distress call during an operational disruption at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE). The incident followed a temporary runway closure that led to extended holding times and fuel concerns for several inbound flights.

The Civil Aviation Administration said the distress call occurred after a separate landing incident involving a T’way Air (TW) flight arriving from Jeju International Airport (CJU). That aircraft experienced a landing gear failure, prompting the closure of the airport’s north runway and triggering a chain of operational delays.

EVA Air Pilots’ Mayday Call Investigated

The runway disruption began when the T’way Air aircraft landed and suffered a detachment of its right main landing gear. Airport authorities closed the north runway to allow for inspection, recovery, and safety checks.

As air traffic congestion built up, three inbound flights were affected by extended holding patterns. Two of these flights were operated by EVA Air, while the third was flown by Hong Kong Airlines (HX).

With fuel levels reportedly running low, the affected crews declared mayday calls to alert air traffic control of their urgent operational status.

The Civil Aviation Administration confirmed that the mayday declarations were linked to fuel concerns caused by the prolonged runway closure, reported Taiwan News.

Regulatory Investigation

Following the incident, Taiwan’s aviation regulator launched a formal investigation to assess whether the flight crew’s actions complied with existing regulations.

Crew interviews were completed several days after the event as part of the review process.

The authority cited Article 57 of the Civil Aviation Act when ordering EVA Air to take immediate corrective measures. The airline was found to have failed to preserve cockpit voice recorder and digital flight data recorder information as required.

Investigators are also examining the timing and decision-making process related to potential diversions to alternate airports. Any regulatory breaches identified during the investigation will be addressed in accordance with applicable aviation laws.

Safety Oversight Measures

The Civil Aviation Administration highlighted that the incident occurred during the high-traffic Lunar New Year holiday period, which runs from February 14 to February 22.

During such peak travel periods, even minor ground incidents can significantly disrupt airport operations.

The regulator has instructed airlines to strengthen aircraft maintenance practices to ensure equipment reliability. It has also urged operators to improve risk assessment procedures to better manage unexpected disruptions.

Airlines have been reminded to implement layered preventive measures to maintain operational safety and avoid unnecessary escalation during irregular operations.

The authority emphasized that mayday calls are reserved for situations involving grave and imminent danger, distinguishing them from lower-priority pan-pan alerts.

Bottom Line

While the investigation remains ongoing, officials stressed that flight safety was not compromised during the incident.

The case has drawn attention to decision-making standards, data preservation requirements, and emergency communication protocols within busy airport environments.

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