AirAsia Flight Mistakenly Lands at Wrong Seoul Airport

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept. 12 (Yonhap) — An AirAsia flight from Malaysia to South Korea caused confusion and frustration among passengers Wednesday night after mistakenly landing at Gimpo International Airport instead of its intended destination, Incheon International Airport.

Flight D7 506 departed Kuala Lumpur International Airport and was scheduled to arrive at Incheon at 7:50 p.m. After circling above Seoul, however, the aircraft touched down at Gimpo at 8:08 p.m.

According to passengers, the captain initially announced arrival at Incheon, prompting many to stand and retrieve luggage from overhead bins. Moments later, several realized through windows and phone apps that they were at Gimpo, not Incheon.

Cause of Diversion

The Korea Airports Corporation attributed the diversion to turbulence around Incheon. The plane remained at Gimpo for nearly two hours to refuel before departing again at 10:17 p.m. It finally landed at Incheon at 10:59 p.m.

Passenger Frustration

During the delay, passengers reported poor communication and minimal assistance. “They seemed just as confused as we were,” said one passenger. “No water was offered, there was almost no food left, and parents with young children were visibly upset. Some even said they’d rather exit at Gimpo.”

Another passenger, identified as Ryu, 39, criticized the absence of a clear explanation. “There was no proper communication or reassurance,” he said.

Lee Mi-hyun, who was traveling with her husband and eight-year-old daughter, said even some crew members appeared uncertain. “One crew member told me she had to call her parents waiting at Incheon,” she told The Korea Herald.

Airline Response Under Fire

The captain and crew eventually issued an apology over the public announcement system before leaving Gimpo, but many passengers described the explanation as insufficient.

The incident has drawn wide attention online, not only for the unusual circumstances of a commercial jet landing at the wrong airport but also for AirAsia’s failure to release an official statement promptly. Critics say the airline’s handling of passenger concerns added to the frustration.