What happened
An ambulance mission was underway, transporting a patient and a medical team from Palm Beach to Rio de Janeiro, with planned stops in Aguadilla and Manaus. The flight was operated by a crew consisting of two pilots. While performing the takeoff roll at Manaus-Eduardo Gomes Airport, the aircraft experienced a significant event just prior to reaching V1 speed.
During the acceleration, the crew reported a loud sound originating from the right side of the aircraft type/model. Simultaneously, the plane began to drift toward the right side of the runway. In response to the deviation and the noise, the captain executed an aborted takeoff procedure and applied the brakes. Despite these efforts, the aircraft could not stop before the end of the runway, eventually coming to a halt approximately 400 metres beyond the runway threshold.
Findings
- The six occupants on board, including the patient and medical staff, managed to exit the plane without any injuries.
- The aircraft type/model sustained damage that was determined to be beyond repair.
- The primary factor in the runway excursion was a loud noise and subsequent directional deviation occurring during the takeoff roll.