Incident Overview
On March 5, 2025, at 20:30 UTC, a Boeing 737-800, registration LV-FRK, operated by Aerolíneas Argentinas, was conducting a scheduled commercial passenger flight (call sign AR1648) from Aeroparque Jorge Newbery in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to Neuquén International Airport. As the aircraft reached rotation speed during takeoff, engine number 1 (left) failed, ejecting hot metal debris onto the runway and surrounding grass area. The flight crew declared an emergency and subsequently diverted to Ministro Pistarini International Airport in Ezeiza, Buenos Aires Province, landing approximately 50 minutes after the failure.
Aircraft and Damage
The Boeing 737-800 (serial number 41560, year of manufacture 2014) sustained substantial damage to the left engine, with metal fragments expelled externally. A post-incident inspection confirmed that the aircraft itself had substantial damage as defined in the ADREP report. Both engines were CFM International CFM56-7B series. The aircraft had accumulated 29,040 total hours and 15,087 cycles.
Occupant and Injury Information
The aircraft carried 152 occupants (crews and passengers). The report lists no injuries to any person on board or on the ground.
Crew Information
The pilot-in-command, aged 42, held an airline transport pilot license with a rating for the aircraft type. The co-pilot, aged 49, held a commercial pilot license with the required rating. Both were male and licensed in Argentina.
Environmental Conditions
At the time of the incident, weather conditions were visual meteorological conditions (VMC) with daylight. Visibility was 10,000 meters, wind was calm at 8 knots from 110 degrees, and the surface temperature and other parameters were not reported as factors.
Flight Details
The departure airport was Jorge Newbery Airpark (SABE, AEP), and the intended destination was Neuquén International Airport (SAZN, NQN). The flight phase was takeoff. The incident occurred on the aerodrome surface (pavement) at an elevation of 20 feet.
Investigation Status
The Junta de Seguridad en el Transporte (JST) of Argentina is conducting the investigation. As of the provisional report, the flight data recorder (FDR) data was being analyzed. No probable cause has been stated, and corrective actions remain under investigation.