History of the Flight
On 27 December 2016 at 23:34 UTC, a Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated by Jet Airways, registration VT-JBG, was involved in an accident during the take-off roll at Goa, India. The flight, a scheduled passenger service from Goa to Delhi, had 138 passengers and 7 crew members on board. The cockpit crew consisted of an ATPL-holder as Pilot-in-Command and a CPL-holder as First Officer. The pre-flight medical checks, including a breathalyzer test, were negative for alcohol. The crew reported for duty at 22:20 UTC and the aircraft was pushed back and started engines at 23:22 UTC. After lining up on Runway 26 and completing the before-take-off checklist, the crew advanced the thrust levers and pressed the take-off/go-around (TOGA) button at 23:33:04 UTC.
Immediately after pressing TOGA, the aircraft began to drift to the right. Within 10 to 12 seconds, the aircraft departed the paved surface onto unpaved terrain. The crew attempted to apply brakes, rudder, and nose wheel steering but reported that heavy bumps prevented effective control. The aircraft continued uncontrolled, striking Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) lights and a concrete pillar 2.3 meters high located 92.3 meters abeam the runway centerline. The aircraft came to rest 219 meters from the runway edge, just short of a perimeter road.
At 22:35 UTC, the crew declared a MAYDAY. The captain then announced an evacuation. Cabin crew opened doors, deployed emergency slides, and assisted passengers. Due to the absence of immediate emergency services, crew provided first aid. Emergency services arrived approximately 20 minutes later. A total of 16 passengers sustained minor injuries during the evacuation.
Injuries and Damage
No injuries were reported among the 7 crew members. Of the 138 passengers, 16 received minor injuries. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. Reported damage included a damaged nose landing gear oleo, fuselage damage aft of the left front main door, left engine cowling and fan blade damage, broken left engine pylon attachment, left and right main landing gear wheel and tire damage, and right engine damage. Additionally, one PAPI light was broken and another had broken glass.
Investigation and Probable Cause
The investigation determined the probable cause as asymmetrical lateral forces on the aircraft at the time of take-off. The initial drift generated these forces, resulting in uncontrolled directional movement and excursion from the paved surface.