What happened
On the afternoon of 7 July 2014, an Airbus A320-216, registered as 9M-AQA, was performing a landing at Brunei International Airport. During the approach to Runway 03, the aircraft encountered intense showers near the runway threshold. As the aircraft touched down, it veered off the right side of the runway.
The pilot-in-command attempted to steer the aircraft back onto the paved surface, but these efforts were unsuccessful. The aircraft eventually came to a stop on a grass area located approximately 1.3 kilometers from the runway threshold. Following the cessation of movement, the engines were shut down, and the crew initiated an emergency evacuation. While there were 0 fatalities, one passenger suffered a minor abrasion to the left elbow during the evacuation process.
The investigation
Investigators examined the physical state of the aircraft and the environmental conditions at the time of the incident. The inspection revealed significant damage to the aircraft's components, specifically affecting the right engine intake and the thrust reverser cowl. Additionally, damage was noted on the fan blades of both the left and right engines, as well as damage to the tires on all landing gear assemblies.
Findings
- The aircraft exited the runway during landing operations.
- Heavy rainfall was present at the runway threshold at the time of the event.
- The cause of the excursion remains unknown.
Safety action
- It is recommended that the operator evaluate the implementation of simulator training specifically focused on go-around procedures below minimums. This training should address weather conditions that lead to a sudden loss or rapid reduction of visual runway references.