Incident Overview
On 8 October 2024, an ATR 72 aircraft registered VT-RKF, operated by M/s Alliance Air, was involved in a serious incident during landing at Bhubaneswar Airport. The aircraft was conducting a scheduled flight from Rourkela to Bhubaneswar with 43 passengers and 4 crew members on board. The incident occurred at approximately 08:50 UTC. No injuries were reported among the occupants, and no fire ensued.
Aircraft and Crew
The aircraft, an ATR 72-212 with serial number 1423, was manufactured in 1993. It features a high wing, twin turboprop engines (Pratt & Whitney PW 127 M), and four Hamilton Sundstrand propellers. The landing gear is a retractable tricycle configuration. All necessary certifications were valid at the time of the incident. The flight crew consisted of a pilot-in-command holding a valid Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL) and a first officer holding a valid Commercial Pilot License (CPL). Both crew members held current aircraft ratings for the ATR 42/72.
Sequence of Events
Before the incident flight, VT-RKF had completed four uneventful sorties. During the initial approach, the aircraft was instructed by Bhubaneswar ATC to hold due to adverse weather and traffic congestion. After a briefing on weather conditions (heavy rain, visibility 800 meters), the aircraft was cleared to continue the ILS approach from 10 DME. ATC requested position reports at 5 DME and 4.8 DME. At 4.8 DME, the aircraft was cleared for landing on runway 14. ATC advised that a go-around would require a left turn to heading 120°, which the crew acknowledged. Up to 1,000 feet, the crew observed no rain, but near minimums they encountered heavy rain while the approach lights became visible. The crew requested increased intensity of approach lights, which ATC promptly provided. While on final approach at 08:50 UTC, the crew felt the aircraft sink and experienced unusual cockpit vibrations as it neared the runway 14 threshold. The aircraft subsequently struck one CAT I and four CAT II approach lights before touching down 43.5 meters short of the runway edge. After landing, the aircraft taxied to stand 2. An outbound flight (AXB 1327, Boeing 737-800) holding at taxiway J reported foreign object debris (FOD) on the runway, leading to cancellation of its takeoff clearance. At 09:07, the pilot-in-command reported a suspected tail strike via landline to ATC.
Damage
Inspection revealed no damage to the engines or propellers. Airframe damage included a perforating hole in the bottom skin panel between frames and stringers, severe damage to the left-hand (LH) landing gear door and folding door, damage to two LH air-conditioning bay panels, perforation in the LH inboard flap honeycomb core, torn LH landing gear sensor cables, sheared electrical harnesses for 51GB, 50GB, anti-skid speed sensor, and brake temperature, a ruptured belly area lower fuselage panel, and a cracked supporting strip in the LH landing gear bay. Additionally, four CAT II and one CAT I approach lights on runway 14 were damaged.
Investigation Status
The Aircraft Accident Incident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) of India is conducting the investigation. Initial crew statements, technical logs, engine logbooks, and onboard documents have been collected. Cockpit voice recorder (CVR) data has been downloaded and analyzed, and raw digital flight data recorder (DFDR) data has been forwarded to the original equipment manufacturer for further analysis. Accredited representatives from BEA France and a technical advisor from ATR are assisting.