TAIPEI- Tigerair Taiwan (IT) has been fined NT$150,000 (US$4,767) by Taiwan’s Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) after a passenger mistakenly boarded the wrong aircraft at Kaohsiung International Airport (KHH), Taiwan, in December 2025.
The traveler, who was ticketed to fly to Narita International Airport (NRT), Tokyo, instead boarded a separate Tigerair service bound for Osaka Kansai International Airport (KIX).
The regulator concluded that the airline’s ground staff failed to properly verify boarding credentials during gate checks, allowing the passenger to enter the incorrect aircraft before the mistake was identified.
Taiwan’s aviation authority subsequently determined that the lapse violated civil aviation security regulations and imposed a financial penalty under the Civil Aviation Act.
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Passenger Boarded Wrong Flight
According to Taiwan’s state-backed news agency CNA, the passenger was originally booked on Tigerair flight IT280 from KHH to Tokyo Narita. However, the individual inadvertently boarded flight IT284, which was preparing to depart for Osaka.
Ground personnel reportedly failed to detect the discrepancy during the initial boarding verification process.
The error only came to light after additional checks were conducted shortly before departure, prompting staff to escort the passenger off the aircraft.
In its statement, the CAA said airline personnel “failed to properly verify passenger identity and boarding eligibility,” a requirement mandated under Taiwan’s aviation security framework. Authorities added that Tigerair voluntarily reported the incident after discovering the boarding irregularity.
The regulator publishes monthly summaries of administrative penalties imposed on carriers operating in Taiwan. The Tigerair incident appeared in the CAA’s April enforcement report following the conclusion of the agency’s investigation.
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Corrective Measures After Security Breach
Beyond the monetary fine, the CAA instructed Tigerair Taiwan to conduct an internal review and submit a corrective action plan designed to prevent comparable boarding failures in the future.
The incident has renewed scrutiny over gate-side identity verification procedures at busy Asian airports, particularly on short-haul regional services where multiple flights to Japan often depart within narrow time windows.
Tigerair acknowledged the regulator’s findings and stated that the matter had been handled in accordance with internal procedures. The airline further said it had already implemented operational improvements and accepted both the fine and official warning issued by authorities.
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Tigerair Faces Additional Regulatory Scrutiny
The boarding incident was not the only enforcement matter involving Tigerair Taiwan disclosed by the CAA this year.
Authorities also cited the carrier over an August 2025 operational deviation involving flight IT234 from Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) to New Chitose Airport (CTS), Sapporo, Focus Taiwan flagged.
According to the regulator, the aircraft failed to comply with assigned air traffic control instructions during cruise operations, resulting in an altitude deviation.
The CAA concluded that the flight crew did not adhere to its cleared flight profile and subsequently ordered the airline to strengthen operational discipline and training oversight.
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