Loss of Separation During Rejected Takeoff at Bogotá El Dorado

Casualties unknown • Bogotá, CO

An Airbus A320-250N failed to comply with a takeoff cancellation instruction, resulting in a loss of separation with an aircraft on final approach.

What happened

On September 8, 2022, an Airbus 320-250N, registration HK5368, was preparing for departure from El Dorado International Airport in Bogotá, Colombia. After being cleared to taxi to runway 13R and subsequently cleared for takeoff, the aircraft experienced a delay of over one minute while positioned on the runway.

Due to this delay, the air traffic controller instructed the crew to cancel the takeoff to allow another aircraft, which was on final approach, to perform a missed approach rather than risking a runway conflict. Despite this explicit instruction to cancel the takeoff, the crew of HK5SB68 proceeded with the takeoff roll. Once airborne, the aircraft entered a state of loss of separation with the approaching aircraft, passing within 800 feet vertically and 1.2 nautical miles horizontally. No TCAS RA or TA alerts were triggered, likely because both aircraft were in a climbing phase near the ground.

The investigation

The GRIAA investigation examined cockpit voice and flight data recordings, air traffic control communications, and meteorological conditions. The investigators analyzed the sequence of events from the initial taxi instructions to the moment the separation was lost. The study focused on the crew's compliance with ATC instructions, the timing of the takeoff cancellation, and the use of standard phraseology by the controller.

Findings

  • The crew of HK5368 failed to comply with the air traffic controller's instruction to cancel the takeoff.
  • The crew delayed the takeoff maneuver without notifying the controller of the delay.
  • There was a deficiency in Crew Resource Management (CRM) and low situational awareness within the cockpit.
  • The air traffic controller used non-standard conditional phraseology, which did not align with Colombian or ICAO standards.

Probable cause

The primary cause was the flight crew's failure to follow the air traffic controller's instruction to cancel the takeoff after an unjustified delay on the runway, which necessitated a missed approach for an arriving aircraft and led to a loss of separation.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2022-09-08 A320-251N accident near Bogotá, CO?

An Airbus A320-250N failed to comply with a takeoff cancellation instruction, resulting in a loss of separation with an aircraft on final approach.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2022-09-08 involved a A320-251N, registration HK5368, at Bogotá, CO.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The primary cause was the flight crew's failure to follow the air traffic controller's instruction to cancel the takeoff after an unjustified delay on the runway, which necessitated a missed approach for an arriving aircraft and led to a loss of separation.

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