What happened
On 17 April 2016, a Transavia Airlines Boeing 737-700, registration PH-XRZ, was performing a scheduled international passenger flight approaching Barcelona-El Prat Airport. During the approach phase, the flight crew declared a "MAYDAY FUEL" emergency.
The incident occurred during a period when air traffic services were transitioning the airport's runway configuration due to changing wind conditions. This transition required managing a sequence of departures and arrivals to move from the previous runway setup to a new one. During this complex maneuvering, the aircraft's fuel state became critical.
The investigation
The CIAIAC investigation examined the coordination between the Barcelona Approach (LECB APP) and the Barcelona Tower (LEBL TWR) during the runway configuration change. The investigation reviewed the procedures for transitioning between runway setups and the management of the arrival sequence.
Investigators analyzed the communications between the flight crew and air traffic controllers, specifically focusing on the timing of the "MAYDAY FUEL" declaration and the impact of the runway change on the aircraft's arrival time. The study also reviewed the operational flight plan, fuel flow factors, and the specific protocols for handling fuel-related emergencies at the aerodrome.
Findings
- The flight crew declared a fuel emergency because the aircraft was approaching the airport with fuel levels below the required reserves.
- The runway configuration change contributed to the incident by altering the expected arrival sequence and timing.
- The transition process between the old and new runway configurations involved complex coordination between the Approach and Tower supervisors to ensure all departing traffic was airborne before the new arrival sequence began.
- There were no injuries to the 132 passengers or 5 crew members on board, and no damage was reported to the aircraft.