A Singapore Airlines Airbus A350-900 was forced to return to Sapporo shortly after departure on Jan 10th, 2026, after a technical issue affected the aircraft’s cabin environment during the climb.
The aircraft, registered 9V-SHO and operating flight SQ-661 from Sapporo, Japan to Singapore, had just departed from runway 19R when the crew halted the climb at around 8,000 feet and descended back to approximately 7,000 feet to assess the situation. Following the abnormal indications, the decision was made to return to Sapporo, where the aircraft landed safely on runway 19L about 50 minutes after departure.
According to a passenger on board, the air conditioning system in the cabin was not working, making conditions uncomfortable during the short flight and after landing. Passengers remained on board for several hours while the situation was handled, before eventually being allowed to disembark.
Singapore Airlines later confirmed that the return was due to a technical issue. The airline arranged hotel accommodations for affected passengers while maintenance teams inspected the aircraft.
The Airbus A350 remained on the ground in Sapporo until Jan 12th, 2026, when it was ferried back to Singapore. After undergoing the necessary checks and repairs, the aircraft was returned to active service, bringing the disruption to a close.
