What happened
On April 28, 2024, at 15:43 UTC, a Douglas DC-9-82, registration YV2923, operated by Línea Aérea de Servicio Ejecutivo Regional, C.A. (LASER), was positioned at Gate 13 of the terminal at Maiquetia International Airport. The aircraft was prepared for a flight to Santo Domingo de las Américas. After closing the main door and initiating the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) start sequence, the crew began a pushback maneuver.
During this procedure, the flight crew observed smoke entering the cockpit. Upon inspection, they determined that the smoke was originating from the air conditioning ducts. The captain consulted the cabin crew chief, who confirmed that smoke was rapidly filling the passenger cabin. Consequently, the captain decided to execute an emergency evacuation and immediately notified the control tower.
Airport fire services responded to the scene. The aircraft sustained minor damage, and all passengers were reported uninjured.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight crew's licenses, maintenance records for the aircraft and its APU, and the cockpit voice recorder (CVR). Analysis of the CVR confirmed that the crew followed standard operating procedures (SOP) and maintained effective communication throughout the event. Troubleshooting of the air conditioning system was performed according to the Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM), resulting in the replacement of the system's coalescer bags.
The investigation also reviewed the maintenance history of the APU, which was identified as a potential source of the smoke. Additionally, the response times of airport emergency services and the coordination between ground operators were evaluated.