Middle East Airlines A330 Runway Excursion at Abidjan

Incident Overview and Aircraft Details On August 21, 2011, at 03:15 UTC, Middle East Airlines flight MEA 575, an Airbus A330-243 registered OD-MEA, was operating a scheduled international passenger service from Beirut to Abidjan. The aircraft was carrying 245 people, consisting of 12 crew members and 233 passengers. The incident occurred on runway 21 at Abidjan Félix Houphouët-Boigny International Airport in Côte d'Ivoire. ## Approach and Runway Excursion The flight crew was conducting an Instrument Landing System (ILS) approach to runway 21. During the final approach, the pilot flying (PF) reported the runway in sight and received landing clearance. The pilot not flying (PNF) observed the aircraft approaching the runway edge lights on their side and requested a left turn. The PF complied with the request. Upon touchdown, the PF applied thrust. The main landing gear subsequently left the runway on the left side and rolled onto the embankment beyond the limits of runway 21. The PF then informed the tower controller that visibility on the runway was zero. ## Investigation and Aftermath The investigation was conducted by the Autorité Nationale de l'Aviation Civile (ANAC) of Côte d'Ivoire in accordance with the Chicago Convention and Annex 13. The report notes that the crew waited at an altitude of 2,700 feet for 14 minutes before being informed of the weather trend. The investigation focused on factors including the unavailability of the transmissometer, visibility conditions at threshold 21, the crew's perception of weather, and the state of the aerodrome lighting.