Singapore Airlines SQ22 returns to Changi after hydraulic issue, 133 passengers continue on replacement aircraft

A Singapore Airlines ultra-long-haul flight bound for Newark returned to Changi Airport after a technical issue involving the aircraft's hydraulic system, before passengers continued their journey on a replacement aircraft.

Flight SQ22 was scheduled to leave Singapore at 11.35pm on August 12 for Newark Liberty International Airport. Operated by an Airbus A350-900ULR, the aircraft returned to Singapore and landed safely at Changi at 3.06am on August 13.

Singapore Airlines Airbus A350-900ULR ultra-long-range aircraft
▲ Singapore Airlines uses the Airbus A350-900ULR on ultra-long-haul services. SQ22 recently returned to Singapore following a technical issue involving the hydraulic system. (Photo: Airbus)

Singapore Airlines later confirmed that the technical issue involved the aircraft's hydraulic system. No specific component or cause has been publicly identified, so there is insufficient information to draw further conclusions about the fault.

133 passengers transferred to another aircraft

After landing, the affected aircraft had to be towed to a remote parking bay for repairs. All 133 passengers and 17 crew members disembarked and travelled by bus back to the terminal while a replacement aircraft was prepared.

Passengers were provided with food vouchers during the wait.

The disruption also required a fresh operating crew. As SQ22 is an ultra-long-haul service, the original crew would have exceeded the applicable flight-duty limits if they had continued operating the journey to Newark.

The replacement aircraft departed Singapore at 5.41am on August 13 and arrived at Newark at 12.15pm local time.

The journey was therefore delayed rather than cancelled outright, with passengers able to continue to the United States after both the aircraft and operating crew were replaced.

Connecting passengers also affected

For travellers on a long-haul itinerary, a return to the departure airport can create problems beyond the original flight itself, particularly for passengers with onward connections.

Affected customers received regular updates during the disruption, while passengers who missed connecting flights because of the delay were assisted with alternative bookings.

One of the world's longest non-stop services

SQ22 covers roughly 16,700km between Singapore and Newark and normally spends more than 18 hours in the air, placing it among the world's longest non-stop commercial passenger flights.

Singapore Airlines A350-900ULR for ultra-long-haul international services
▲ The A350-900ULR is the ultra-long-range member of the A350 family, with Singapore Airlines as its launch customer. (Photo: Airbus)

The Airbus A350-900ULR operating the route is the Ultra Long Range version of the A350 family. Singapore Airlines was the launch customer for the aircraft and received the world's first A350-900ULR in 2018 for its ultra-long-haul network.

While the hydraulic-system issue naturally draws attention, Singapore Airlines has not disclosed the specific component involved. For travellers, the more relevant outcome is that the aircraft returned safely to Changi, passengers were transferred, a new crew was arranged and the journey resumed several hours later.

Move Auto's Take

A technical return does not automatically mean the end of a journey. Aircraft availability, crew duty limits and onward connections can all determine what happens next. SQ22 offers a useful real-world look at the chain of decisions required to get an ultra-long-haul flight moving again.

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