What happened
While accelerating on runway 23L, the crew of the aircraft experienced significant vibrations and a thumping sound at a speed of 145 knots. Simultaneously, power decreased in the right engine, and a warning light indicated that the right main landing gear was unsafe. Upon being notified by the co-pilot, the captain chose to abort the takeoff once the aircraft reached 149 knots.
To stop the plane, the pilot engaged emergency braking, deployed spoilers, and utilized the thrust reversers. However, the aircraft could not stop within the remaining 1,219 meters of the runway. The aircraft type overran the paved surface at 70 knots, traveled an additional 139 meters, and descended a 15-meter embankment. The impact caused the fuselage to break into three separate pieces. The incident resulted in two fatalities and 55 injuries, while 50 individuals remained unharmed.
Findings
Investigations revealed that the third tire on the right main gear burst during the takeoff roll, likely due to excessive wear. Debris from the disintegrated tire struck various components of the landing gear and entered the right engine, which led to the loss of engine power and a malfunction in the thrust reverser system.
While the decision to abort the takeoff was deemed appropriate, investigators concluded that the action was taken too late, occurring more than four seconds after the initial warning light appeared. Additional contributing factors included insufficient crew training for emergency procedures and inadequate monitoring of tire degradation. Furthermore, it was noted that 65.7 seconds passed between the release of the brakes and the final stop of the vehicle.