What happened
On 16 April 2013, an Aeromexico Boeing 767-200, registration XA-TOJ, was performing a scheduled international flight departing from Madrid-Barajas airport (LEMD). During the takeoff roll on runway 36L, a loud noise was heard by the cabin crew. As the aircraft climbed, the flight crew detected significant pressurization issues. Upon reaching a cabin pressure altitude of 14,000 ft, the passenger oxygen masks deployed.
Following the loss of cabin pressure, the flight crew initiated an emergency return to the airport. While the aircraft was in flight, another operator, Air Europa, reported that a subsequent takeoff had resulted in a tire depressurization due to debris on the runway. This prompted a runway inspection, which confirmed the presence of metal fragments on the pavement. The Aeromexico crew landed safely on runway 18L. There were no fatalities, though two flight attendants reported neck pain.
The investigation
The CIAIAC investigation focused on the sequence of events during the takeoff maneuver and the subsequent loss of pressure. Investigators examined the aircraft's flight data recorder (DFDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR) to analyze the takeoff performance and the impact of the tailstrike. The investigation also reviewed the maintenance of the aircraft and the presence of foreign object debris (FOD) on the runway, as the metal fragments found during the inspection were linked to the damage sustained by the aircraft's tail and APU compartment doors.