What happened
On November 9, 2018, a Boeing B757-200, registered as N524AT, departed Timehri International Airport (SYCJ) in Guyana, bound for Toronto, Canada. The flight, operating as FJA256, carried 120 passengers and 8 crew members. Shortly after takeoff, while cruising at 20,000 feet approximately 75 nm northwest of the airport, the pilot reported a loss of hydraulic fluid. Although no emergency was officially declared, the flight crew requested to level off at 20,000 feet and intended to return to the departure airport.
The aircraft returned to the SYCJ holding area and prepared for landing. The landing itself and the final approach were reported as normal. However, as the aircraft decelerated to 60 knots during its rollout, it veered toward the right side of the runway. The aircraft exited the paved surface and traveled approximately 1,400 feet past the end of the active runway, coming to a stop perpendicular to the strip. The nose of the plane overhung the airport perimeter fence, with the nose gear positioned roughly 30 feet from a steep embankment.
During the excursion, the starboard landing gear became stuck in thick, loose sand that had been placed on the airfield for a runway expansion project. While the aircraft was evacuated via emergency slides, the incident resulted in 11 injuries and 1 fatality, involving an elderly passenger who passed away five days after the event. The aircraft suffered significant structural damage.
Findings
- The aircraft's starboard undercarriage became embedded in loose sand left on the airfield for construction purposes.