What happened
On April 29, 2019, a SpiceJet Boeing 737-800, registration VT-SGJ, was operating a scheduled flight from Delhi to Shirdi when it experienced a runway excursion. During the landing phase on runway 09, the aircraft was high on approach and failed to stabilize by 500 feet AGL. The crew encountered significant tailwind components, with flight data recorder analysis indicating a tailwind of up to 17 knots at 500 feet.
As the aircraft crossed the runway threshold, it was approximately 165 feet above the ground, exceeding the prescribed 50-foot limit. The pilot performed an extended flare, resulting in a delayed touchdown 1,445 meters past the threshold. Although the pilot applied maximum manual braking, the remaining runway length was insufficient to stop the aircraft. Consequently, the plane overshot the runway end, exiting onto an unpended surface and coming to a halt on gravel approximately 160 meters from the runway 27 threshold. There were no injuries to the 194 passengers or the two crew members, though the aircraft sustained minor damage to its tires, engine blades, and instrumentation.
The investigation
The AAIB India investigation examined the flight data, cockpit voice recordings, and aerodrome infrastructure. Investigators analyzed the aircraft's braking performance, noting that the pilot transitioned from autobrakes to manual braking four seconds after touchdown. The investigation also scrutinized the meteorological information available to the controller, finding discrepancies between the wind reported by ATC and the actual wind recorded by the aircraft's flight management computer.
Furthermore, the inquiry looked into the aerodrome's operational setup, noting that the wind direction indicator was obstructed by the ATC building and that the controller's visibility of the runway 27 end was limited. The investigation also reviewed the airline's training programs and emergency response procedures.