Plane landed with nose in sea after runway skid

AN AIRCRAFT which skidded off a runway in Sligo was only prevented from going into the sea when its front wheels jammed in large boulders.

The Celtic Airways flight from Dublin ended up with its nose in the out-going tide and passengers had to be rescued by fire crews using ladders.

A report into the accident published yesterday warned: “Had there been injuries on board or indeed had the aircraft not been halted by the main wheels contacting the boulders, the outcome would have been far more serious.”

It recommended Sligo Airport extend the run-off area at the end of the runway to improve safety. The airport intends to apply for planning permission for a runway end safety area.

The report also recommended that the airport install an instrument landing system, whereby instruments help guide the aircraft safely in to land.

On the day of the accident, November 2, 2002, the Fokker F27 was operating a scheduled passenger flight from Dublin to Sligo.

When landing in Sligo, according to the pilots and witnesses, it carried out a lower and faster approach than normal, due to gusty wind conditions, and touched down farther along the runway than normal.

It skidded and ran off the runway, coming to a halt with its nose section in the sea and with the main wheels resting on the edge of the embankment, a metre short of where the boulders fall away into the sea.

“The nose wheel, cockpit and forward section of the fuselage cleared the top of the boulder embankment and the aircraft tilted approximately 15-20 degrees nose-down onto the outgoing tide,” the report said. On seeing the aircraft pass by at an abnormally high speed, the tower controller immediately sounded the crash alarm. Emergency services were called.

The Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting Service (ARFFS) arrived on the scene almost immediately.

Ladders had to be used to bring passengers to safety from the aircraft’s rear door.

There was no fire and no injuries to the 36 passengers and four crew on board.

“All the passengers were then bussed back to the terminal building where local health board personnel checked them for injuries. While none of the passengers or crew complained of any injuries, a number of passengers were distressed by their experience,” the report said.

The accident site was then sealed off by the gardaí pending the arrival of the air accident investigation unit team. On the team’s arrival the seawater had covered the pilot’s seats. At the subsequent high tide the seawater reached the first few rows in the passenger cabin.

The majority of the 36 passengers were interviewed by an Inspector of Air Accidents in the days following the incident.

Some considered that the aircraft bounced once, while others could not recall a bounce. Spray and smoke was seen coming from the left-side tyres.

“The left outer tyre was seen to explode, while the left inner tyre was seen to deflate and rotate around its rim,” the report said.

“When the aircraft left the runway a lot of muck and spray was thrown up before the aircraft finally came to a rest at the edge of the water. In general, people were calm.”