The incident reportedly came to light only after boarding, before to takeoff, enabling airline personnel to accompany the customer off the aeroplane headed for Osaka.
According to sources, Tigerair Taiwan was fined NT$150,000 (about ₹4,54,893) by Taiwan’s Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) after a passenger accidentally boarded the incorrect flight. A passenger who was supposed to travel to Tokyo’s Narita Airport instead boarded a flight headed for Osaka at Kaohsiung International Airport in December 2025. Authorities cited a lapse in boarding checks as the reason for the regulatory action when the issue emerged following the conclusion of an inquiry.
Instead of flying to Tokyo, the passenger boarded an Osaka flight.
A traveller who was scheduled to travel on Tigerair aircraft IT280 from Kaohsiung to Tokyo Narita instead boarded flight IT284, which was going to Osaka. The mistake was overlooked during the initial boarding checks at the departure gate, according to Taipei Times. Only shortly after boarding, prior to flight, was it discovered, enabling airline personnel to remove the passenger from the aircraft headed for Osaka. The Civil Aviation Administration was subsequently informed of the occurrence by Tigerair.
Reasons for Penalising the Airline
According to Aviation A to Z, the CAA stated that airline employees “failed to properly verify passenger identity and boarding eligibility,” which is required by Taiwan’s aviation security legislation. According to the CAA, the passenger was able to board the wrong flight because gate employees neglected to adequately verify their identity. A fine under the Civil Aviation Act resulted from this being found to be a breach of Taiwan’s civil aviation security laws.
Such events, according to the authority, underscore the significance of rigorous identity checks during boarding processes.
Airline Reaction
Following the fine, Tigerair Taiwan has been requested by the CAA to examine its practices and provide a report detailing the actions taken to avoid future occurrences of this kind.
According to Taipei Times and Taiwan News, the airline reaffirmed that passenger safety is still its top priority and stated that it supports the regulator’s decision and has already made adjustments.
Another incident was also reported
In a further instance, the CAA reported that an altitude deviation occurred mid-flight on a Tigerair Taiwan flight from Taoyuan to Sapporo in August of last year due to noncompliance with air traffic control directives. In the wake of that event, authorities said the airline has also been urged to improve crew management procedures, internal discipline, and training.
In high-traffic airport environments where many planes are boarding simultaneously, regulators warned that even small gaps in ground processes might pose serious dangers.
