What happened
On October 9, 2025, at approximately 10:30 UTC, an Aerolíneas Argentinas Boeing 737-800, registration LV-FQY, was performing a scheduled commercial passenger flight from Trelew, Chubut, to Buenos Aires. During the takeoff roll at Almirante Zar International Airport, the aircraft's number 1 (left) engine suffered a mechanical failure before the crew reached the decision speed (V1).
The failure was characterized by the ejection of metallic fragments from the engine exhaust nozzle. Following the malfunction, the flight crew initiated an aborted takeoff. While there were no injuries among the 162 occupants on board, the aircraft sustained substantial damage, specifically to the left engine.
The investigation
The Argentine Transportation Safety Board (JST) launched an investigation into the powerplant failure. Preliminary examinations focused on the CFM International CFM56-7B series engine. Investigators analyzed the sequence of events during the takeoff phase and the physical evidence of the failure, specifically noting the presence of debris ejected from the engine nozzle.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was a failure or malfunction within the engine powerplant group.
- The failure involved the high-pressure blades of the engine.
- The incident occurred during the takeoff phase prior to reaching V1 speed.
- The engine failure resulted in the expulsion of metal fragments through the exhaust nozzle, leading to substantial damage to the engine.