Boeing 737-2A1 Runway Excursion at Maiquetía (YV3471)

Incident Overview and Aircraft Details On May 31, 2025, at 20:57 UTC, a Boeing 737-2A1 with registration YV3471 and serial number 21598 departed from Simón Bolívar International Airport (SVMI) in Maiquetía, Venezuela, bound for La Chinita International Airport (SVMC) in Maracaibo. The aircraft, owned by Rutas Aereas de Venezuela S.A. (RAVSA), was equipped with Pratt & Whitney JT8D-15 turbofan engines. It carried 106 people, including a crew of six and 100 passengers. ## Operational Sequence and Emergency During the initial climb, following the retraction of the landing gear, the flight crew declared an emergency due to a loss of hydraulic fluid in System A. The crew applied the procedures outlined in the Quick Reference Handbook (QRH) and notified Maiquetía Approach Control of their decision to return to the departure airport. ## Landing and Runway Excursion The aircraft was authorized by the control tower to land. During the landing phase, the activation of thrust reversers and the application of brakes from hydraulic System B caused the aircraft to skid to the right side of the runway. This occurred because the steering system was disabled by the loss of hydraulic System A. The aircraft came to rest on a grassy area near intersection “E.” ## Investigation and Findings All passengers and crew members were unharmed, and the aircraft sustained minor damage. Investigators conducted a troubleshooting of hydraulic System A in accordance with AMM 32-32-00, identifying a leak in the flexible return line of the left main landing gear actuator. The component was replaced, and subsequent tests of the landing gear and steering system showed no further issues. The investigation is currently in the technical analysis phase.