History of the Incident
On 1 February 2015 at Warsaw Chopin Airport (EPWA), a serious incident involving a runway incursion occurred. The incident involved a De Havilland Canada DHC-8 Dash 8 aircraft (registration SP-EQH) operated by Eurolot S.A. and a vehicle operated by the airport maintenance service with the call sign "Utrzymanie 118".
The vehicle operator requested permission from the air traffic control tower (TWR) to occupy runway 15's threshold (THR) for cleaning purposes. Initially, permission was denied due to a landing aircraft on runway 33. After the landing aircraft cleared runway 33, the operator was given clearance to occupy THR RWY 15, though the operator did not acknowledge the clearance.
While the DHC-8 was taking off from runway 29, TWR personnel observed the vehicle moving near the Stopway (SWY) behind THR RWY 11. The controller called the vehicle, and the operator initially stated they were at THR RWY 15. Only after the controller suggested that it was actually THR RWY 11 did the operator confirm their mistake.
The vehicle operator had confused the thresholds of the runways, leading to the vehicle's presence on the stopway of the active runway during the aircraft's takeoff. TWR personnel noticed the incursion only during the vehicle's second entry into the area and ordered it to leave the maneuvering area.
Findings
- The airport features two intersecting runways and multiple taxiways, classified as a complex airport. It lacked an Advanced Surface Movement Guidance and Control System (A-SMGCS) or other authorized system for monitoring aircraft and vehicle movements on the maneuvering area.
- Continuous radio communication was maintained with the vehicle operator throughout the incident.
- Meteorological conditions had no influence on the incident.
- Neither the aircraft nor the vehicle sustained damage, and there were no injuries.
- The investigation was supervised by the Polish State Commission on Aircraft Accident Investigation (PKBWL), with participation from the Polish Air Navigation Services Agency (PAŻP) and the airport operator (Polish Airports State Enterprise).
Probable Cause
The probable cause of the serious incident was determined as: vehicle operator error, resulting in occupation of the stopway of the wrong runway during a takeoff operation.