Air China flight CA4578 returns after takeoff
On the evening of October 4, 2024, Air China flight CA4578 returned urgently due to suspected mechanical failure on its way from Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport to Chongqing Jiangbei Airport. Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport confirmed to the media that flight CA4578 did return that night.
It was learned from several passengers on the flight that after the plane returned and stopped at the jet bridge, the windshield on one side of the plane was seen to be cracked during the disembarkation process. It is understood that this aircraft is the third Boeing 787-9 model received by Air China, with an age of more than 8 years.
On the evening of October 4, flight CA4578 took off from Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport at 20:01 and returned to Xiaoshan Airport at 21:18. After returning, Air China replaced the flight with an Airbus A330 aircraft and took off again at 23:52 that night.
On October 5, 2024, Air China staff responded that flight CA4578 did return "due to problems with the airline", but the specific reason was not disclosed.