B747-C/F
Flight Crew Flight Engineer
Communication Breakdown; Other / Unknown; Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Ground Event / Encounter Object; Ground Incursion Taxiway
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; General Maintenance Action
Airport; Human Factors
After landing on Runway 5C; Tower instructed us to clear on the high speed taxiway Victor and contact Ground. We called Ground and our instructions were to taxi; Tango; Golf; Bypass 2; Alpha; and to parking. It was night and somewhat hazy. The green centerline lights were illuminated on the full length of the parallel Taxiway Tango. Looking down the length of Tango; there was another set of green centerline lights for a right turn taxiway. Taxiway Alpha between Tango and Bypass 3 is closed. There is a string of temporary red lights leading from the east corner through the green centerline lights and across the taxiway entry. There is a second string of temporary red lights from the north corner across Alpha at Bypass 3. The temporary lights are recognizable; but not as bright as the green centerline lights that lead through them or as bright as the blue edge lights.There was a noticeable thump as the tires deflated. A set of red lights was observed at Bypass 3 and we stopped. The Captain then had the Mechanic open the L1 door and look aft. I went down with the Mechanic and we verified a set of temporary lights behind us over the left wing. The verbal taxi directions were clear and not an issue. The cause of the incident was the crew's failure to follow the directions as given and note the presence of the string of temporary lights. Contributory was poor signage and illuminated green taxi lights leading from Tango through a closed section of a taxiway. We stopped and notified Ground of our situation. The mechanic exited the aircraft through the E&E hatch and confirmed that tires 13&15 were punctured and flat. We shut down there and Ground said they would send a tug to tow us to parking. With two flat tires; we requested and were approved to remain at our current location. We then removed and replaced both tires; refueled and pushback to Tango for departure. The green lights from Tango onto Alpha should not have been illuminated on a section of a closed taxiway and signage needs improvement.
B747 Flight Engineer describes a taxiway incursion at HECA; resulting in two flat tires and damage to temporary red barrier lights. Crew had followed green taxiway centerline lights from Taxiway T to Taxiway A (not the cleared route as A was closed). Lack of signage and very dim red lights were cited as factors.