What happened
On November 9, 2024, an Airbus A320-214, registration N957AV, was operating a commercial passenger flight from Bogotá (SKBO) to Cartagena (SKCG). During the approach to Cartagena, the crew encountered heavy rain and significantly reduced visibility. Due to these deteriorating conditions, the pilot executed a missed approach.
Following the missed approach, the crew attempted to divert to the planned alternate airport in Barranquilla (SKBQ), but found that weather conditions there had also worsened. The crew then redirected the aircraft to a second alternate, Montería (SKMR). During the diversion, the aircraft's fuel levels dropped critically, triggering an ECAM warning for low fuel in the right wing tank. At 01:03 UTC, while cruising at 10,000 feet, the crew declared a MAYDAY due to the low fuel state. The aircraft landed safely at Montería at 01:18 UTC with 755 kg of fuel remaining, which was 354 kg below the planned final reserve.
The investigation
The GRIAA investigation examined the flight planning, dispatch procedures, and meteorological analysis. The investigation established that the flight was planned with a focus on fuel efficiency, assuming a direct approach to runway 01 in Cartagena. However, the actual operational reality involved a runway change to runway 19, which required higher fuel consumption.
Investigators also reviewed the air traffic control environment, noting that the arrival sequence was delayed by two successive medical emergencies involving other aircraft. Furthermore, the investigation analyzed the dispatch process, finding that the meteorological monitoring did not sufficiently account for the regional convective systems affecting the entire northern coast of Colombia, which simultaneously impacted the destination and the planned alternates.