A T’way Air tire detachment occurred as Flight TW687 landed at Taoyuan International Airport on 8 February 2026, prompting a temporary runway closure but resulting in no injuries.
Summary: A T’way Air tire detachment occurred when Flight TW687 from Jeju landed at Taoyuan International Airport on 8 February 2026. The right main landing gear lost a tire on touchdown; the aircraft taxied to gate A2, all 150 on board were unharmed, and the North Runway was closed for 1 hour 43 minutes for inspection and debris removal.
A T’way Air tire detachment occurred as Boeing 737-800 Flight TW687 arrived from Jeju and touched down on Taoyuan International Airport’s North Runway (05L/23R) at 3:52 PM local time on 8 February 2026. One tire on the right main landing gear detached during landing; despite the failure the crew maintained control and the aircraft taxied to parking stand A2 by 3:54 PM. All 150 passengers and crew disembarked safely with no reported injuries.
What happened during landing?
Flight TW687 had completed its short international sector from Jeju, South Korea, when the right main landing gear lost a tire on touchdown. Airport rescue and firefighting teams met the aircraft on arrival. Ground crews recovered the detached tire from the runway and performed an emergency sweep to check for additional Foreign Object Debris (FOD). The immediate recovery confirmed there were no secondary items left on the active surface.
- Flight: T’way Air TW687 (Jeju to Taoyuan)
- Aircraft: Boeing 737-800
- Touchdown: 3:52 PM local time, 8 February 2026
- Taxied to gate A2 by 3:54 PM
- On board: 150 passengers and crew — no injuries reported
Immediate airport response and operational impact
Taoyuan International Airport suspended all takeoffs and landings on the North Runway to allow inspection and debris clearance. The closure lasted 1 hour and 43 minutes, after which the runway reopened at 5:35 PM local time. During the outage, air traffic was reallocated to the South Runway, producing minor delays for most flights.
- Total flights affected: 14 (eight arrivals, six departures)
- Most delays: under 20 minutes
- Notable delay: Japan Airlines Flight JL8671 experienced about a one-hour delay
Investigation launched by Taiwanese authorities
The Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) and the Taiwan Transportation Safety Board (TTSB) opened an investigation into the cause of the wheel/tire separation. Investigators are reviewing the aircraft’s recent maintenance history and examining potential material fatigue or mechanical issues with the axle and locking mechanisms.
Specifically, investigators are checking maintenance records and the torque settings on wheel bolts, while also inspecting the axle and locking hardware to determine whether the detachment was due to a mechanical failure or a maintenance procedural error. At the time of reporting, no definitive cause has been announced.
Status of the aircraft and passengers
After the inspection, the involved Boeing 737-800 remained grounded at Taoyuan. T’way Air sent a relief aircraft later that evening to operate the return service to Jeju. The airline said it is cooperating with Taiwanese authorities as the probe continues and expressed regret for the disruption while emphasizing passenger safety as its priority.
Implications for aviation safety and maintenance
Incidents involving wheel or tire separation are uncommon but prompt detailed reviews because they can indicate maintenance, manufacturing or operational issues. The CAA and TTSB’s findings could lead to revised maintenance checks, enhanced torque verification, or more frequent inspections of landing gear components across operators if systemic causes are identified.
Why this matters: For passengers and the aviation industry, this event underscores the importance of rigorous maintenance oversight and rapid airport response procedures. Travelers can be reassured that the incident resulted in no injuries and that both the airline and Taiwanese authorities acted quickly to secure the aircraft, clear the runway, and begin a formal investigation.
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