UAE Investigates Runway Incursion Involving Cessna Citation Sovereign at Abu Dhabi International Airport (SU-SML)

Incident Overview and Investigation Scope On 21 November 2022, a Cessna Citation Sovereign 680, registration SU-SML, operated by Smart Aviation Company, was involved in a serious incident at Abu Dhabi International Airport (OMAA). The occurrence was classified as a 'Runway incursion – Category B1' by the Air Accident Investigation Sector (AAIS) of the United Arab Emirates. The investigation was conducted under Civil Aviation Law No. 20 of 1991 and in conformance with Annex 13 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, with the sole objective of preventing future accidents and incidents. ## Flight History and Sequence of Events The aircraft, operating under call sign SME640, was preparing for an IFR private commercial flight from Abu Dhabi to Doha International Airport (OTBD). There were ten persons on board, including six passengers, two flight crewmembers, one flight engineer, and one cabin crewmember. The Commander was the pilot flying, and the Copilot was the pilot monitoring. During taxiing, the flight crew was instructed by Ground South Control to taxi at pilot's discretion and hold short of taxiway Foxtrot (F) on Foxtrot 5 (F5). After switching to Tower South Control, the crew was instructed to hold short of Foxtrot 31 (F31) due to a helicopter (A6HBN) landing. Once A6HBN vacated F31, the Tower controller cleared another helicopter (A6HBQ) to land at pilot's discretion. The SME640 crew confirmed they had A6HBQ in sight. Approximately eight seconds later, the Tower controller instructed A6HBQ to go around because SME640 was entering taxiway F31. A6HBQ executed a go-around, and SME640 was instructed to hold its position. The aircraft subsequently continued taxiing and took off uneventfully from runway 31L. ## Personnel and Aircraft Information The Commander held an Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority (ECAA) ATPL valid until 28 February 2023, with 6,773 total flight hours, including 1,742 hours on the Cessna CE680. The Copilot held an ECAA ATPL valid until 31 May 2023, with 4,923 total flight hours, including 224 hours on the Cessna CE680 as first officer. Both crewmembers reported being well-rested and fit for duty. The aircraft was a Cessna Citation Sovereign 680, manufactured in 2007 (serial number 680-0167), with a maximum take-off weight of 13,744 kg. At the time of the incident, it had accumulated 4,555 flight hours and 2,507 flights. The technical logbook showed no defects prior to the incident, and no technical anomalies were reported by the crew. ## Aerodrome and Meteorological Conditions Abu Dhabi International Airport is located 16.5 kilometers east of Abu Dhabi city, with an elevation of 83 feet. The airport features two asphalt runways: 13R/31L and 13L/31R. A helicopter final approach and take-off area (FATO), designated as H31, is located on taxiway F between E15 and E14, offset and parallel to runway 13R/31L by approximately 460 meters. The FATO is restricted to daytime operations only. At the time of the incident (0653 UTC), meteorological conditions at OMAA included winds from 320 degrees at 9 knots, visibility greater than 10 kilometers, few clouds at 4,000 feet, an air temperature of 29 degrees Celsius, a dew point of 18 degrees Celsius, and a pressure of 1016 hectopascals.