A passenger plane flying from Sapporo to Akita diverted and landed at Hakodate Airport due to mechanical problems. None of the 26 passengers or crew were injured. Hokkaido Air System, the operator, indicated that one propeller may have frozen, leading to engine instability.
On December 12, a Hokkaido Air System passenger plane en route from Sapporo Okadama Airport to Akita Airport reported unstable engine power shortly after takeoff and diverted to Hakodate Airport. The ATR42-600 aircraft features two propeller engines per wing, and the company suspects the right engine's propeller froze, causing erratic rotation speeds.
The crew notified air traffic control around 12:35 p.m. that day. According to the operator, this model can land safely even if one propeller stops. Experts suggest a potential failure in the anti-icing system for propellers and wings.
With 26 passengers and crew aboard, no injuries occurred, and all disembarked safely. Hokkaido's harsh winter weather may contribute to such incidents, though the exact cause remains under investigation.
