Fatal Takeoff Accident Involving MKA1602 at Halifax International Airport (9G-MKJ)

Incident Overview and Sequence of Events On the morning of the occurrence, MKA1602 landed on Runway 24 at Halifax International Airport at 0512 and taxied to the ramp. After shutdown, loading operations began. During this period, two MK Airlines Limited crew members were observed sleeping in the upper deck passenger seats. Following the completion of fuelling, a ground engineer checked the aircraft fuelling panel and signed the fuel ticket. The aircraft had been uploaded with 72,062 kg of fuel, bringing the total fuel load to 89,400 kg. The ground engineer then moved to the main cargo deck to assist with loading. Once loading was complete, the ramp supervisor for the ground handling agent went to the upper deck to retrieve the MKA1602 cargo and flight documentation. While the loadmaster was completing the documentation, the ramp supervisor visited the cockpit and noted that the first officer was not in his seat. Approximately ten minutes later, the ramp supervisor left the aircraft with the documentation. At 0647, the crew began taxiing the aircraft to position on Runway 24, and at 0653, the aircraft began its take-off roll. During rotation, the aircraft's lower aft fuselage briefly contacted the runway. A few seconds later, the lower aft fuselage contacted the runway again with more force. The aircraft remained in contact with the runway and the ground to a point 825 feet beyond the end of the runway, where it became airborne and flew a distance of 325 feet. The lower aft fuselage then struck an earthen berm supporting an instrument landing system (ILS) localizer antenna. The aircraft's tail separated on impact, and the rest of the aircraft continued in the air for another 1,200 feet before it struck terrain and burst into flames. The final impact occurred at latitude 44°52'51'' N and longitude 063°30'31'' W, approximately 2,500 feet past the departure end of Runway 24, at an elevation of 403 feet above sea level. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and post-crash fire. All seven crew members on board were fatally injured.