Incident Overview
A Boeing 727-227 struck a pedestrian during the takeoff ground run on Runway 26L. The captain reported that the pedestrian was positioned on the runway centerline during the takeoff roll. The aircraft had accelerated to approximately 105 knots indicated airspeed when the crew identified the pedestrian. The captain immediately veered the aircraft to the right to avoid a collision and aborted the takeoff. The crew felt an impact during the maneuver.
Post-Incident Actions
After the incident, the aircraft taxied to the ramp. A post-flight examination revealed that the pedestrian had been struck by the left main landing gear system.
Pedestrian Information
According to the airport authority, the pedestrian was a 40-year-old male who was a mental patient at a nearby hospital. The airport authority stated that the pedestrian was not authorized to access the runway.
Security Investigation
An investigation into the breach of airport security did not determine how the pedestrian gained access to the runway environment.