Accident Overview
During the takeoff roll at Amman Airport, the flight crew initiated rotation at a speed of 265 km/h. At that moment, the captain detected a possible problem with one of the engines. The decision to abort the takeoff was made, but only about 500 meters of runway remained. The aircraft was unable to stop within the runway length, overran the end, descended into a ravine, and collided with a building located 290 meters beyond the runway. The aircraft was destroyed. Both pilots and seven persons in the building were killed, and several others sustained injuries.
Sequence of Events
The takeoff commenced normally. As the aircraft accelerated, the crew began rotation at 265 km/h. During rotation, the captain perceived a potential issue with an engine. The crew decided to abort the takeoff. This decision was made after the aircraft had passed its V1 speed, which was set at 252 km/h. With only approximately 500 meters of runway remaining, the aircraft could not decelerate sufficiently. It overran the runway, went down a ravine, and eventually struck a building located 290 meters from the runway end.
Investigation Findings
The official investigation reported that the captain had the impression that the speed dropped due to an engine failure. However, subsequent inspections of the engines revealed no technical anomalies. The decision to abort the takeoff was therefore unfounded. Additionally, the accident occurred during a partial solar eclipse, which the investigation noted could have influenced or affected the pilot's perceptions at the time.