What happened
On 22 March 2007, an Emirates Boeing 777-300ER, registration A6-EBC, began its takeoff roll on runway 05 Right at Auckland International Airport. The flight was scheduled to travel to Sydney with 357 passengers and 18 crew members on board.
During the takeoff roll, the flight crew realized that work vehicles were positioned ahead on the runway. In response, the captain immediately applied full takeoff go-around (TOGA) thrust. Despite the late application of power, the aircraft managed to become airborne, clearing a rubber-removal truck and a safety officer's vehicle by approximately 28 metres. There were no injuries and no damage to the aircraft or the vehicles involved.
The investigation
Investigators examined the takeoff performance and the information available to the crew prior to departure. It was established that the pilots had used performance calculations based on an outdated digital ATIS printout. While the current ATIS broadcast contained information regarding a reduced runway length due to maintenance, the crew had not properly integrated this update into their takeoff configuration.
Specifically, the pilots had set engine thrust and flap settings appropriate for a departure using the full runway length, unaware that the available distance had been shortened due to ongoing works. The investigation also looked into the communication between air traffic controllers and the flight crew, noting that the controller had not explicitly confirmed if the pilots were aware of the runway restrictions during the taxi phase.