CAA probes Starlux flight to Kobe after hard landing

Taipei, Jan. 25 (CNA) Taiwan's Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) is investigating a Starlux Airlines flight from Taichung to Kobe, Japan, after it experienced a hard landing on Jan. 20, and has grounded the crew pending the inquiry.

According to the CAA, flight JX306 exceeded vertical G-force limits during its landing, meaning the aircraft touched down with a stronger-than-normal downward force.

After receiving a report on the issue soon after the flight landed, the CAA said it requested that the cockpit voice recorder and digital flight data be preserved and the crew take breathalyzer tests, and it ordered the crew to remain off duty during the investigation.

It did not provide any further details on how these steps were carried out.

Starlux Airlines, Taiwan's newest international carrier, explained on Sunday that its flight encountered a sudden gust of wind on approach, which triggered abnormal system readings, but it did not elaborate further.

The airline said that following the incident, it grounded the aircraft for inspection in line with standard procedures and reported the matter to the CAA.

The return flight to Taichung was canceled due to the expected maintenance time, while post-flight inspections by Airbus confirmed the aircraft's frame remained structurally sound, the carrier said.

Passengers scheduled to return on the canceled flight were rebooked on other flights or provided accommodation to stay in Kobe overnight and then take another Starlux aircraft specially deployed to Kobe home on Jan. 21, the carrier said.