Incident Overview
At approximately 2058 hours local time on 28 February 2009, a Boeing 777-200 aircraft operated by an airline as a scheduled passenger flight from Perth to Singapore experienced a runway excursion upon landing at Singapore Changi Airport. The aircraft veered to the right of Runway 02L after touchdown, causing the right main landing gear to briefly leave the paved surface. The pilot-in-command (PIC) promptly took over control and steered the aircraft back to the centerline. No passengers or crew were injured, but two runway edge lights were damaged, and the aircraft sustained cuts on two wheels of the right main gear along with minor damage to the electrical harness beneath the landing gear.
Flight and Crew Details
The aircraft, a Boeing 777-200 with registration 9V-SRN, was powered by two Rolls-Royce Trent 800 engines. It carried 289 persons on board. The flight crew consisted of a PIC who also served as a supervisory captain, a second officer (SO) occupying the right seat as the pilot flying, and a first officer acting as a safety pilot occupying an observer seat. The SO was undergoing line training under the PIC's supervision; both had flown together for several sectors prior to the incident and were comfortable working with each other.
Weather and Approach
During the flight, the crew received weather updates via the Automated Terminal Information Service (ATIS). Prior to descent, ATIS reported thunderstorms moving southeast, with light showers. Later, ATIS broadcast heavy rain over Changi Airport with a thunderstorm warning valid from 2030 to 2115 hours. The runway in use was 02L. Approach Control advised the crew that a preceding aircraft had reported a 15-knot tailwind on landing, and the current wind was 240° at 10 knots. The PIC accepted the landing as the aircraft's tailwind limit was 15 knots. Subsequent landing clearance mentioned wind at 230° at 8 knots (about 7 knots tailwind) and a wet runway.
Touchdown and Excursion
During the final approach, the aircraft deviated slightly right of the localiser and below glideslope at 1,000 feet. The PIC verbally instructed the SO to correct, and the approach was stabilized thereafter. At about 40 feet, the left wing began to rise as the aircraft drifted right. The PIC attempted to bank left but felt resistance on the control wheel. The SO had employed a touchdown-in-crab technique. Flight data recorder (FDR) analysis indicated the aircraft touched down with a crab angle of 18° left of runway heading. Dual control inputs from both pilots were recorded, with the PIC exerting most of the control column and rudder pedal forces. The aircraft touched down firmly and continued veering right, causing the right main gear to exit the runway pavement. The PIC immediately applied left rudder to steer back to the centerline.
Aftermath
Two runway edge lights were damaged. The aircraft sustained cuts on two wheels of the right main landing gear and minor damage to the electrical harness underneath. No injuries were reported among passengers or crew. The Air Accident Investigation Bureau of Singapore classified the occurrence as an incident. The investigation focused on weather conditions, pilot actions, and the guarding of controls during the landing roll.