US-bound ANA plane returns to Tokyo after ‘heavily drunk’ passenger bites crew member

A US-bound ANA plane had to return to Tokyo after an intoxicated passenger bit a cabin attendant mid-flight, the Japanese carrier said on Wednesday.

The passenger, a 55-year-old man reported to be American, sunk his teeth into a crew member’s arm while “heavily drunk”, leaving her mildly injured, an All Nippon Airways spokesman said.

The incident prompted pilots of the plane bound for Seattle with 159 passengers on board to turn back to Haneda airport, where the man was handed over to police, according to ANA.

Japanese broadcaster TBS quoted the passenger as telling investigators that he “doesn’t recall at all” his behaviour, as he had taken a sleeping pill.

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The incident left some social media users likening it in mock horror to the “beginning of a zombie movie”.

Others lamented the litany of Japanese aviation woes so far this year – with four other incidents making headlines in just over two weeks.

All 379 people on board the JAL Airbus escaped just before the aircraft was engulfed in flames.

Five of the six people on the smaller aircraft, which was helping in a relief operation after a major earthquake in central Japan, died.

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Five killed after coastguard plane collides with Japan Airlines passenger jet at Haneda airport

Five killed after coastguard plane collides with Japan Airlines passenger jet at Haneda airport

Korean Air said the accident, which caused no injuries, happened after “the third-party ground handler vehicle slipped due to heavy snow.”

A similar mishap took place on Sunday when an ANA aircraft came into “contact” with a Delta Air Lines plane at a Chicago airport, the Japanese airline said.

No injuries were reported.

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Another ANA flight reportedly had to turn back on Saturday after a crack was discovered on the cockpit window of the Boeing 737-800.

“Wing strike” incidents “do happen” because many airports are handling bigger planes than they were built for, said Doug Drury, an aviation expert at Central Queensland University.

“The cracked window incident may have been caused by a faulty window heat system, as the temperatures are quite extreme at altitude,” he added.

“This is not uncommon and has happened to me during my career.”