What happened
On November 18, 2022, a LATAM Airlines Perú Airbus A320neo, registration CC-BHB, was performing its takeoff roll on Runway 16L at Jorge Chávez International Airport in Lima, Peru. As the aircraft reached a speed of approximately 243 km/h and had traveled roughly 1,200 meters along the runway, it collided with an R3 rescue vehicle.
The rescue vehicle, operated by the airport's Fire and Rescue Service (SSEI-LAP), had entered the runway while traveling at high speed from the new airport fire station as part of a Response Time Exercise (ETR). The force of the impact caused the aircraft's right engine to detach from its pylon, the right main landing gear to collapse, and the aircraft to slide on its right wing. The collision also caused a fuel spill that ignited.
Following the impact, the flight crew executed rejected takeoff procedures and brought the aircraft to a halt. The cabin crew immediately evacuated all passengers and crew after the fire was extinguished by the rescue team. While the aircraft sustained significant damage, the collision resulted in two fatalities among the three firefighters on board the R3 vehicle, with the third firefighter sustaining serious injuries.
The investigation
The Peruvian Aviation Accident Investigation Commission (CIAA) examined the sequence of events leading to the runway incursion. The investigation focused on the coordination between the airport's fire service and Air Traffic Control (ATC) during the execution of the response time exercise. Investigators reviewed the communication logs, the movement of the rescue vehicle, and the adherence to established operational procedures for entering the maneuvering area and runway.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the collision of the LATAM aircraft with a rescue vehicle that entered the runway without express authorization from the CORPAC Tower Control.
- The vehicle entered the runway while performing a scheduled Response Time Exercise (ETR).
- The accident was driven by a lack of joint planning and deficient coordination between the airport'operatorm and air traffic services.
- There was a failure to utilize standardized ICAO phraseology and communication protocols during the exercise.