The Air Accident Investigation Authority (AAIA) of Hong Kong has released its Investigation Report IVR-2025-02, detailing a serious incident involving an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner that occurred on October 20, 2018, at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG). The aircraft, operating a scheduled flight from Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL), was on final approach when it experienced a critical deviation from the intended glide path due to Instrument Landing System (ILS) signal interference, ultimately resulting in a go-around at just 280 feet above ground level.
According to the AAIA’s report, the flight was stabilized on the ILS approach to Runway 25R, but the aircraft began to descend rapidly around 2.6 nautical miles from the runway threshold. The descent triggered multiple system alerts, including a “Sink Rate” warning, prompting the crew to initiate a go-around as a safety precaution. At the time, the radio altitude was only 280 feet, highlighting the serious nature of the deviation.
The investigation determined that the ILS signal distortion was caused by interference from a Boeing 777 parked on a taxiway near the approach path. The parked aircraft reflected the localizer signal, leading to erroneous guidance to the Air India crew. Such signal disturbances are known risks in ILS operations and underscore the importance of maintaining protected areas around sensitive navigation equipment.
Importantly, the Air India pilots followed standard operating procedures and made a timely decision to abort the approach, climb to a safe altitude, and perform a successful landing on a subsequent approach.
The AAIA report recommended improvements to ground movement procedures and emphasized the need for increased awareness among air traffic control and airport operations teams to avoid similar incidents in the future. It also praised the crew’s adherence to procedures and situational awareness under pressure.
The incident highlights the complex nature of modern aviation navigation and the potential risks posed by environmental or ground-based interference. While no injuries or damage were reported, the event serves as a reminder of the critical role of pilot training and airport coordination in maintaining flight safety.
