A China Airlines Boeing 747-400 freighter, freight flight CI-5254 from Anchorage,AK to Atlanta,GA (USA), was on approach to Atlanta's runway 27R when one of the trailing edge flaps separated from the wing. The aircraft went around, positioned for another approach to runway 28 and landed safely on runway 28 about 15 minutes after going around.

The onward flight to Dallas Ft. Worth,TX (USA) was cancelled.

The FAA reported the Boeing 747-800 landed without further incident after a trailing edge flap had separated from the wing on May 20th.

China Airlines do not (yet) operate Boeing 747-800s. Flight CI-5254 did not operate on May 20th. Upon query by The Aviation Herald with these details the FAA confirmed the incident occurred on May 19th, further details (including aircraft type, tailnumber, location of flap separation, info on whether the flap has been located) are under investigation.

A resident living on the extended center line about 4.25nm east of the threshold of Atlanta's runway 27R reported a 20 feet/6 meters long piece of an aircraft fell onto the roof of her home on Sunday (May 19th) afternoon causing two holes in the roof before the piece fell into the yard.

Police reported the 20 feet long piece belonged to the right wing of the China Airlines. The flaps section, that separated from the wing, broke in two parts, impacted the fuselage causing substantial damage to the fuselage, too, and fell to the ground.