What happened
On 24 June 2023, a Cathay Pacific Airways Boeing 777-300ER, registered as B-KPQ, was involved in an accident while departing from Hong Kong International Airport. During the sequence of events, an explosive deflation of a tire occurred. This incident led to an evacuation of the aircraft. While no fatalities were reported, two maintenance workers who initially approached the aircraft narrowly avoided serious injury during the tire failure.
The investigation
The AAIA is currently conducting an investigation to establish the precise causes of the accident. The investigation team has been analyzing evidence to determine why the tire deflated so violently and has performed comprehensive testing to identify the technical cause of the failure. Beyond the mechanical aspects, investigators are examining human factors, including the decision-making processes of the crew, crew resource management, training protocols, and the effectiveness of the emergency evacuation procedures used during the event.
Findings
Investigators have identified significant gaps in communication and coordination between the airline and its various ground service and maintenance providers. These coordination failures were identified as a safety risk. Additionally, the investigation is looking into the technical reasons behind the explosive tire deflation.
Safety action
Following the identification of communication risks, the AAIA issued a Safety Recommendation to Cathay Pacific Airways, which the operator has accepted. The airline is expected to perform a systemic review of its ground handling procedures, specifically addressing the hazards present during a high-speed rejected takeoff (RTO). The goal of this review is to implement better communication mechanisms between the operator and both in-house and contracted ground personnel, ensuring all parties are fully aware of the safety precautions required by their manuals.