Passengers were further inconvenienced at Korea's main gateway when the airlines' substitute flight suffered mechanical problems. Ten more international flights were delayed.

At approximately 8:10 pm on Thursday, Saipan-bound Asiana flight OZ256 brought its 280 passangers back to Incheon two hours after take-off due to radar defects discovered while crossing over Gimhae in the southeastern tip of the country. The company rushed to provide a substitue flight to appease disgruntled passengers, but it too was grounded with engine defects.

Following the two delays on separate aircraft passengers demonstrated in the departure area until 1:00 am on Friday morning. The company promised to compensate them and cover hotel fees as it dispersed them to hotels around Incheon Airport City. Eight and a half hours later the group left for Saipan minus twenty passengers who cancelled their flight.

Meanwhile, Asiana flight OZ732, also a Boeing 777, was refused permission to leave for Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, due to aircraft defects, tieing up another 310 passengers at the airport.

The upset had a domino effect on subsequent flights, grounding Asiana flight OZ214 to San Francisco for four hours until 11pm and delaying 12 more planes bound for Asian destinations in Taiwan, Vietnam, Saipan, and Japan.

Asiana Airlines explained the delay as arising from a shortage of available aircraft given the unforseeable nature of the incident.

(englishnews@chosun.com )