Singapore Airlines plane grounded after white substance found

A Singapore Airlines (SIA) plane bound for Beijing with 292 people on board was grounded today after airport staff discovered a white substance in the cargo hold, the carrier said.

SIA said, however, that the substance found on the Boeing 777 was harmless. A replacement plane ferried the passengers to their destination.

"Ground staff at Singapore Changi Airport had discovered a white substance in the cargo hold of SQ806, a Singapore Airlines Boeing 777 with 276 passengers and 16 crew onboard," SIA said in a statement.

The aircraft had been due to depart for Beijing at around 3:45pm local time (0745GMT).
 

"The relevant authorities were notified and after investigating, concluded that the substance was harmless," it said, adding that the replacement aircraft departed at 7:20 pm.