What happened
On October 27, 2023, at 14:51 UTC, an Airbus A320-214, registered as HB-IHY, was performing a scheduled commercial flight from Zurich Airport (LSZH) to Faro Airport (LPFR). During the takeoff roll on runway 32, the aircraft experienced a significant deviation to the left of the runway centerline. This deviation occurred shortly before the aircraft reached its decision speed, V1. In response to the lateral instability, the flight crew initiated an aborted takeoff.
While there were no injuries to the two pilots, five cabin crew members, or the 106 passengers on board, the aircraft sustained minor damage. Specifically, the melt valve of the far-left main landing gear was triggered during the event.
The investigation
The Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board (SUST) launched an inquiry to determine the circumstances surrounding the runway deviation and the subsequent mechanical activation of the landing gear component. The investigation focused on the flight dynamics during the high-speed portion of the takeoff roll and the factors contributing to the loss of directional control prior to V1.