History of the Flight
On 29 January 2025, around 21:15 UTC, a serious incident occurred at Saint-Barthélemy airport involving a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter registered PJ-WIX, operated by Winair, and a Pilatus PC12 registered N590TW, operated by Tradewind Aviation. Both aircraft were on scheduled passenger commercial flights.
The crew of N590TW departed V. C. Bird International Airport in Antigua and Barbuda at 20:45 UTC, bound for Saint-Barthélemy. The crew of PJ-WIX departed Princess Juliana International Airport in Sint Maarten at 21:03 UTC, also bound for Saint-Barthélemy.
On approach, both crews contacted the AFIS officer in English. The AFIS officer transmitted weather information and indicated runway 10 was in use. Both crews stated they planned to land on runway 28.
From 21:07, the crew of N590TW performed 360° separation maneuvers south of point COCO due to traffic ahead. The crew of PJ-WIX was approaching FOURCHUE. The AFIS officer informed both crews of their position in the approach sequence.
At 21:11:03, N590TW reported being at point COCO for a left-hand approach to runway 28. At 21:11:44, PJ-WIX asked for N590TW's position. N590TW reported on left base leg and then turning final for runway 28 at 21:12:26.
At 21:13:05, N590TW landed on runway 28. Four seconds later, PJ-WIX reported on short final, at the end of the right base leg for runway 28.
At 21:13:26, the AFIS officer warned PJ-WIX of traffic needing to vacate via D. PJ-WIX did not acknowledge. After landing, N590TW veered onto the paved strip on the right side of the runway, performed a left U-turn, and began backtracking.
At 21:13:35, the AFIS officer again warned PJ-WIX of the preceding aircraft on the runway. PJ-WIX, now abeam EDEN ROCK (the point beyond which a missed approach cannot be performed), briefly keyed the microphone as a readback. The AFIS officer repeated the information ten seconds later when PJ-WIX was on short final at 47 ft. PJ-WIX landed as N590TW backtracked and vacated via taxiway B.
Crew Statements
Crew of PJ-WIX
The captain (38, 4,000 hours) and co-pilot (30, 1,586 hours) stated they extended the downwind leg to maintain separation from N590TW. When turning final, they faced into the sun and could not see the end of the runway. They heard the AFIS officer's warnings but believed a missed approach was no longer possible. They continued at lowest possible speed. They were unaware N590TW would turn around and backtrack. The co-pilot believed separation was sufficient had N590TW not backtracked.
Crew of N590TW
The captain (35, 1,485 hours) and co-pilot (27, 1,325 hours) performed holding maneuvers before COCO to maintain separation. After passing COCO, they heard PJ-WIX announcing arrival between FOURCHUE and FREGATE. The captain saw PJ-WIX on base leg and on TCAS. After landing, they passed taxiway B. Due to another PC12 at the holding point on taxiway A, they decided to U-turn and backtrack to taxiway B. They heard the AFIS officer warn PJ-WIX repeatedly and were aware of the aircraft behind but not of the small separation. After the U-turn, they saw PJ-WIX landing directly ahead; the captain increased power to vacate quickly.
AFIS Officer
The AFIS officer, with 25 years of experience at the airport, stated that in this situation, it was for PJ-WIX to ensure separation. He did not expect N590TW to backtrack. He thought it may have been too late for a missed approach when he transmitted the presence of N590TW. He felt powerless, as his prerogatives did not allow more. He was aware that N590TW could not exit at A due to another aircraft. He could not recall if his wording encouraged N590TW to act accordingly. He considered traffic heavy; although runway 10 was in use due to wind, pilots commonly chose runway 28 with weak tailwind. He also indicated he did not fully utilize the display system due to radar blip masking and ADS-B inaccuracy.
Aerodrome and Air Navigation Information
Saint-Barthélemy airport is a restricted-use airport reserved for aircraft whose pilots hold specific authorization. The AFIS service operates daily from 07:00 local time to 15 minutes after sunset. AFIS officers have a system displaying remote radar data from Princess Juliana and ADS-B data, used as a situational awareness tool but not authorized for traffic information. The AFIS provider operations manual does not specify that an aircraft at a holding point should be subject to traffic information.
The airport has a paved runway 10-28, 646 m long and 18 m wide. All take-offs are from runway 10, which is also preferred for landings. Runway 28 has a landing distance of 646 m and is connected to the main parking via taxiways C, B, and A (located 350 m, 545 m, and 640 m from the threshold, respectively) and to general aviation parking via taxiway D opposite A. A paved strip about 50 m long and 20 m wide lies within the runway safety area between the runway and general aviation parking, adjacent to taxiway D.
The approach to runway 28 can be by right or left base leg from reporting points FREGATE or COCO. A missed approach can only be performed with a right turn no later than approximately 0.25 NM from the threshold (EDEN ROCK decision point). The AIP does not define criteria for carrying out a missed approach.