SQ322's tyre deflation no compromise to safety: SIA

[SINGAPORE] Singapore Airlines (SIA) has clarified that there was no compromise in safety after SQ322 was forced to fly back to Changi Airport on Saturday following a problem with the aircraft's air-conditioning units.

London-bound SQ322 returned to Singapore soon after taking off early on Saturday morning after the crew reported a fault with two of the aircraft's air-conditioning units. Upon landing, several of the tyres on the Airbus A380 aircraft deflated as the plane landed with a full load of fuel.

"The tyres are designed to deflate at certain brake temperatures to prevent a tyre burst. This is what happened in this case, as the aircraft landed at a heavier weight than normal," said a spokesman for SIA, in response to queries from The Business Times. "At no time was safety compromised, however."