Incident Overview
On 16 August 2008, at 22:57 UTC, a Boeing 737-86N, registration SU-BPZ, operated by AMC Airlines, was conducting charter flight AMV6104 from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport to Luxor, Egypt. The crew planned a takeoff from runway 27L using intersection Y11. The runway distance available was temporarily reduced by about one third due to construction work at the end of the runway. During the takeoff run, the aircraft struck provisional runway end lights, and during rotation, it hit plastic markers placed in front of the construction zone. The aircraft overflew a provisional blast fence and continued its flight to destination. The crew did not inform air traffic control of the anomalies encountered.
Aircraft and Crew Information
The aircraft was a Boeing 737-86N (serial number 35213), entered service in June 2007, with 4,234 flight hours and 1,323 cycles. Both engines were CFM56-7B26/3G05. The flight crew consisted of two B737-rated captains employed by AMC. The pilot flying was the Captain, aged 43, with 9,150 total flight hours (1,900 on type). The co-pilot was aged 39, with 5,950 total hours (140 on type). The aircraft carried 2 flight crew, 5 cabin crew, and 185 passengers (169 adult, 16 child). All persons on board were uninjured.
Damage
The aircraft sustained slight damage to the number 1 engine fairing and the trimmable horizontal stabilizer. One nose gear tire was cut, and a piece of the left main landing gear harness detached. On the ground, provisional worksite elements—plastic markers and lights marking the temporary end of the runway and K2 taxiway—were damaged.
Sequence of Events
The aircraft arrived at Paris CDG at 21:25, three hours late. During the stopover, the co-pilot programmed the FMS. The Captain handled a police intervention regarding a passenger who had smoked in the toilets and obtained the weight and balance sheet. After listening to the ATIS, the Captain calculated takeoff performance using the Onboard Performance Tool (OPT), planning for runway 27L from intersection Y11. The aircraft left the parking area at 22:45. During taxi, the ground controller offered Y12 or Y11; the crew chose Y11. The controller stated the remaining distance. As the crew approached Y11, the LOC controller cleared them for takeoff. After striking objects, the crew performed a systems check and decided to continue to Luxor without informing ATC.
Discovery of Damage
Later that night, at about 02:30 on 17 August, flight BIE250 was cleared to cross runway 27L via K2 taxiway after landing but reported debris. An inspection found damaged marker beacons from the works zone and a part from a B737-800. AMC later confirmed SU-BPZ had struck ground lighting. The incident was classified as a serious incident.