United Flight Lands Safely in Japan after Radio Trouble

Oct. 26, 2006
The pilot could listen to instructions from the airport controllers, but was unable to respond.

A United Airlines passenger jet from Chicago landed safely at an airport in western Japan after developing radio trouble on Wednesday, airport officials said.

The Boeing 777 had radio failure while trying to make a landing approach to the Kansai International Airport, said Hiroshi Yasuragi of Transport Ministry's Kansai Office.

The pilot requested an emergency landing at the airport, which was the plane's destination, and landed safely Wednesday afternoon, Yasuragi said.

None of 174 people aboard - 156 passengers and 18 crew members - were injured, he said.

The trouble occurred when the UA877 from Chicago was about 50 kilometers (30 miles) southwest of the airport, Yasuragi said.

The pilot could listen to instructions from the airport controllers, but was unable to respond due to the radio trouble, Yasuragi said. The cause was under investigation.

Kansai International Airport is near Osaka, about 410 kilometers (260 miles) southwest of Tokyo.

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