What happened
On May 28, 2015, an Eastar Jet B737-800, registration HL8292, was completing an arrival from Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport to Cheongju International Airport. While the aircraft was on its final approach to runway 24R, the tower controller informed the crew of two fighter jets in the traffic pattern.
During the landing roll on runway 24R, the flight crew discovered a Phantom fighter jet still occupying the runway. The crew performed an emergency braking maneuver to avoid a collision, but the B737-800 came within approximately 3,000 feet (1,000 meters) of the military aircraft. There were no injuries to the 176 passengers or the crew, and no damage was sustained by either aircraft.
The investigation
The ARAIB investigation focused on the communication between the Cheongju Control Tower and the flight crew. The investigation established that the tower controller cleared the preceding fighter jet to land on runway 2ically 24R, despite the fact that the fighter jet had not yet vacated the runway.
Investigators examined the radio communications and found that the controller failed to specify which runway the fighter jet would be using. Furthermore, the investigation looked into the flight crew's response to the traffic information provided. The analysis revealed that the crew relied on assumptions regarding standard military operations rather than verifying the specific runway assignment with the tower.
Findings
- The tower controller failed to provide specific traffic information regarding the fighter jet's landing runway direction.
- The controller used inappropriate phraseology, instructing the preceding jet to "taxi without delay" rather than using the term "immediately" to ensure the runway was vacated.
- The controller failed to instruct the Eastar Jet flight to reduce approach speed or perform a go-around to maintain safe separation.
- The flight crew failed to verify the fighter jet's landing runway and did not maintain constant observation of the traffic.
- The captain made decisions based on the assumption that fighter jets preferentially use runway 24L, rather than confirming the actual runway assignment for the aircraft on 24R.