What happened
During an approach to Thessaloniki Airport, an aircraft encountered challenging meteorological conditions, including heavy rain, thunderstorm activity, and visibility reduced to 5 km. The wind was recorded at 360° with a sustained speed of 18 knots and gusts reaching 28 knots.
Upon landing, the aircraft touched down at a point too far down the runway. Realizing that the remaining runway length was insufficient to bring the plane to a halt, the pilot steered the aircraft off the runway to the right. As the aircraft moved onto the soft ground, the landing gear was separated from the airframe. The aircraft eventually came to a stop, sustaining damage that rendered it a total loss.
Findings
- All 35 occupants managed to evacuate the aircraft without any injuries.
- The primary factor in the excursion was the long touchdown distance on the runway during inclement weather.