The first in-service Airbus A380 airliner, used by Singapore Airlines, was involved in a minor incident at Singapore Changi Airport on 10th January.

According to a statement released by the airline, the aircraft was preparing for departure for Sydney when the tow-truck being used to push back the airliner suffered hydraulic failure "which caused the truck to disconnect with the aircraft."

The A380, which was not under its own power, subsequently rolled off the tarmac and onto an adjoining grass verge.

The flight's 446 passengers were unhurt and were disembarked before being transferred to one of Singapore's Boeing 747-400s.

Engineering staff from the airline went on to re-position the A380 back onto the tarmac where they carried out detailed inspections into the aircraft's landing gear in conjunction with Airbus technicians.

A spokesman for Singapore Airlines later stressed that although this was the "first incident involving the A380, [the] cause was an issue with the tow-truck, not the aircraft."

Second Singapore Superjumbo Delivered Today

The incident occurred just hours before Singapore received its second example of the A380. Airbus handled over the second aircraft to Singapore at the manufacturer's delivery centre in Toulouse, France, on Friday, with the aircraft expected to arrive at Singapore Changi on Saturday morning where it will begin commercial services.

The first A380, which was involved in the incident at Changi, was delivered to the airline last October.

Singapore, the launch customer for the world's largest passenger airliner, is due to receive the third A380 in February - with this aircraft being used for services to London Heathrow.

Source - Airport International's Aviation Correspondent

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