China Airlines B744 at Atlanta on May 19th 2013, flap separated from wing

A China Airlines Boeing 747-400 freighter, registration B-18701 performing freight flight CI-5254 from Anchorage,AK to Atlanta,GA (USA) with 3 crew, was on approach to Atlanta's runway 27R when one of the trailing edge flaps separated from the wing. The aircraft went around, positioned for another approach to runway 28 and landed safely on runway 28 about 15 minutes after going around.

The onward flight to Dallas Ft. Worth,TX (USA) was cancelled.

The FAA reported the Boeing 747-800 landed without further incident after a trailing edge flap had separated from the wing on May 20th.

China Airlines do not (yet) operate Boeing 747-800s. Flight CI-5254 did not operate on May 20th. Upon query by The Aviation Herald with these details the FAA confirmed the incident occurred on May 19th, further details (including aircraft type, tailnumber, location of flap separation, info on whether the flap has been located) are under investigation.

A resident living on the extended center line about 4.25nm east of the threshold of Atlanta's runway 27R reported a 20 feet/6 meters long piece of an aircraft fell onto the roof of her home on Sunday (May 19th) afternoon causing two holes in the roof before the piece fell into the yard.

Police reported the 20 feet long piece belonged to the right wing of the China Airlines Boeing 747. The flaps section, that separated from the wing, broke in two parts, impacted the fuselage causing substantial damage to the fuselage, too, and fell to the ground.

On Nov 7th 2013 the NTSB released a preliminary report into a ground incident at Dallas Ft. Worth involving B-18701 which may have a bearing into this occurrence stating, that while taxiing after landing on Feb 25th 2013 the aircraft encountered a #2 (inboard left hand) engine fire as result of a #2 fuel feeder line leak, the fire was extinguished with the discharge of the onboard fire suppression system. The engine was replaced, no aircraft damage had been reported, the NTSB stated.

On Feb 12th 2014 the NTSB released their preliminary report into the accident in Atlanta stating, that the inboard fore flap departed the right hand wing while on approach to Atlanta's runway 27L. The crew reported parts falling off the right hand wing, declared emergency, went around and landed safely on Atlanta's runway 28. A 20 feet and a 3 feet section of the right inboard fore flap were located about 4-5nm east of the aerodrome.