Latam Airlines Airbus A320neo hits fire engine on runway during take-off
aviation24.be
aviation24.be
An initial investigation placed blame heavily on the flight crew, but other factors emerged in later reports.
There was construction equipment on an adjacent parallel closed runway. Along with the taxiway, it was fully illuminated with no barriers. The signs and markings were deficient and not readable in a typhoon at night.
The 747 was cleared for takeoff and crashed into a parked vehicle they could not see until V1.
When the final 30 minutes are played backward from mass casualties, the aircrew appears criminally negligent. But a 2 year investigation revealed an incredibly subtle drift into failure of the safety envelope.
A lack of ground radar, schedule pressure, and split second decisions contributed to a near certainty of tragedy at the sharp end.
Unlike with road deaths, these tragedies lead to safety improvements all over the world. We will all be a little safer because the victims paid with their lives.
More detail
> An ATC report states in writing that the rescue vehicle entered runway 16 from the west at the height of taxiway B without authorization and collided with flight LA-2213.
This works due to regulation, training, and an honest evaluation of every incident that forces changes in the system.
> The flight carried 102 passengers, 36 of them got injured of which 4 seriously injured.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_737_MAX#Grounding_and_r...
Two people died.
“Tower” is in charge of the runways and “ground” in charge of the taxiways. Both are movement areas.
https://pe.ivao.aero/storage/download/cartas/1595026538_cart...
The final thing is the video from the passenger on TikTok shows the rescue truck kicking up a cloud of dust, making it seem like they were crossing bare earth.
1: https://static1.simpleflyingimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/...
1. Did the emergency services vehicles not know what Runway is in use and check out the left as they approached. They would've clearly seen the massive aircraft on short finals.
2. The Air Traffic Controller is responsible for the safe separation and operation of aircraft on the manoeuvring area, except for the ramp.
But it seems that both the ATC, the pilots in the aircraft and the driver themselves. During busy non-standard Ops - I would keep as much distance between them as possible to ensure
It's a 15+ ton vehicle - it doesn't just jump out in front of you.
From what I've seen around me, firefighters tend to be pretty careful drivers even when running with flashy lights, but there was an unfortunate break down here. Condolences to those involved.
Now arguably this was not a right-of-way situation; but I guess you could argue that stationary objects have right-of-way over vehicles.
But, large boats can turn if the channel allows and trains can't, and boating tradition is clear that vessels restrictred in their maneuverability have priority, so trains win. ;p
There are roughly four airports with railways crossing the runway, although three of them seem out of use.
(I'd guess the train takes priority in normal use, as the schedule is probably less flexible, but given notice of an emergency the train could be asked to stop.)
-A320 Captain