A Malaysia Airlines passenger jet preparing for takeoff at Narita International Airport near Tokyo experienced an engine issue, prompting a canceled takeoff and the temporary closure of a runway.

According to outlets such as NHK and Kyodo News, at around 10:40 a.m. today (August 20), Malaysia Airlines Flight 89 (an Airbus A330) bound for Kuala Lumpur experienced an anomaly in its engine system while taxiing for takeoff at Narita Airport, leading to an aborted takeoff.

An airport official reportedly placed an emergency call to the fire department at the time, stating, "Something resembling black smoke is visible from the aircraft engine."

An investigation indicated that a defect had occurred in the left engine of the aircraft.

A total of 160 passengers and crew members were on board the flight, but fortunately, no injuries were reported from the incident.

Immediately following the incident, airport authorities completely suspended operations on Runway A, one of the airport's two runways, to handle the situation and conduct safety inspections.

The runway closure lasted for about two and a half hours, and numerous aircraft debris fragments scattered around the runway were recovered during the inspection process.

Footage from an airport security camera installed by local media captured the halted aircraft stranded on the runway, surrounded by multiple emergency vehicles including fire trucks and ambulances controlling the scene.

Authorities are investigating the exact cause and circumstances of the left engine malfunction based on the recovered parts and the condition of the aircraft.

The runway closure disrupted the departures and arrivals of several flights using Narita Airport.

Aircraft defects and airport incidents have occurred consecutively in Japan recently, following an incident last month on July 3 where a Japan Airlines (JAL) passenger flight traveling from Tokyo Haneda Airport to Osaka Itami Airport changed its destination due to an aircraft defect and made an emergency landing at Kansai Airport.

(Photo: Yonhap News)