Wikipedia

XiamenAir Flight 8667

XiamenAir Flight 8667 was a scheduled international passenger flight from Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport in Xiamen, China, to Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila, Philippines. On 16 August 2018, the Boeing 737-85C (WL) operating this flight skidded off the runway while attempting to land in poor weather conditions. After leaving the runway, the aircraft hit obstacles that tore off the left engine and the left main gear. The crash occurred at 11:55 p.m. Philippine Standard Time (UTC+8), and resulted in the destruction of the aircraft. No serious injuries were reported among the crew or passengers. The damaged aircraft took 36 hours to remove from the runway, leading to a major disruption at the airport, which is the primary international gateway to the Philippines. The closure caused the cancellation of more than 200 domestic and international flights, affected more than 250,000 travelers, and prompted calls for enlargement of the airport or the construction of alternative airports to serve the country in the event of future disruptions.

XiamenAir Flight 8667
Grounded and badly damaged aircraft in an airport
Wreckage of B-5498 on the apron at Ninoy Aquino International Airport
Accident
Date16 August 2018 (2018-08-16)
SummaryRunway excursion due to pilot error[1]
SiteNinoy Aquino International Airport, Manila, Philippines
14°30′23.7″N 121°0′59.1″E / 14.506583°N 121.016417°E / 14.506583; 121.016417[2]: p2 
Aircraft
Aircraft typeBoeing 737-85C (WL)
OperatorXiamenAir
IATA flight No.MF8667
ICAO flight No.CXA8667
Call signXiamenair 8667
RegistrationB-5498
Flight originXiamen Gaoqi International Airport, Xiamen, China
DestinationNinoy Aquino International Airport, Metro Manila, Philippines
Occupants165
Passengers157
Crew8
Fatalities0
Injuries0
Survivors165

After the accident, the flight crew stated in interviews that a torrential downpour obstructed their view of the runway. The investigation revealed that despite the first officer of the aircraft calling for a go-around several times during the landing, the captain attempted to complete the landing despite not being able to clearly identify the runway. The investigation led to changes in airline policy relating to cockpit resource management, planning, and operations in poor weather conditions. It also led to runway improvements at the airport to remove runway obstructions that had caused most of the severe damage experienced by the aircraft.

Accident

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B-5498 from another angle
 
Ninoy Aquino International Airport from the air, looking east. Runway 24 is on the left edge of the image, running from the bottom to the top of the picture

The aircraft, operating as flight number 8667, departed Xiamen, China, at 9:23 p.m. local time, bound for Manila, Philippines.[3][4] MF 8667 was a regularly scheduled flight that operated daily flights between the two cities.[5][6]

Upon arrival in the Manila airspace, the aircraft circled the area waiting for a break in the thunderstorms in the area.[7] At 11:40 p.m., the pilots attempted to land, but they aborted the attempt at 30 feet (9 m) above the ground because they did not have a clear view of the ground and surrounding area.[2]: p1 [8] After a discussion, the pilots decided to make one more landing attempt, and they planned to divert to their planned alternate airport if they had to abort during the second approach.

On the second attempt, the pilots were able to establish a stabilized approach to the runway with the landing gear lowered, flaps at 30 degrees, and the speed brake in the armed position. The aircraft stayed on its targeted course along the glide slope down to 50 feet (20 m). As the plane passed over the runway threshold, it began to veer to the left of center of the runway.[2]: p1  The high intensity centerline runway lights on the runway had been out of service since August 8 due to scheduled runway refurbishment.[9][10] The first officer called out "go-around", but the captain answered, "No". At 13 feet (4.0 m) above the ground, the aircraft was rolling to the left and drifting to the left of the runway center line. The first officer made another call for a go-around, but the captain again responded, "No" and "It's Okay".[2]: pp1-2 

The aircraft touched down on Runway 24 almost on both main gears, to the left of the runway center line, 2,430 feet (741 m) from the threshold of the runway. After touching down, the speed brakes and the autobrakes deployed, but the autobrakes disengaged shortly after due to an unknown cause.[2]: p2  Initial witnesses reported that the aircraft appeared to bounce during the landing, before veering off to the left.[11] The plane left the left edge of the runway, and it collided with several concrete electric junction boxes that were located in the grassy area beside the runway, causing the left main gear and the left engine to be torn off of the aircraft. As the aircraft continued into the soft grassy ground to the side of the runway, the right main landing gear and the nose gear collapsed and were folded into the gear wheel wells.[2]: pp2-3 

The aircraft came to a complete stop 260 feet (80 m) to the left of the center of the runway, about 4,900 feet (1,500 m) down the runway from the threshold, at about 11:55 p.m. Philippine Standard Time (UTC+08:00).[12][2]: p2  The collapse of the nose wheel caused the aircraft's internal and external communication systems to fail, so the first officer left the cockpit to announce the emergency evacuation. The cabin crew conducted the evacuation of the aircraft using emergency slides on the left and right front doors.[2]: p2  All passengers and crew were able to evacuate the aircraft with no major injuries, and only a few reporting superficial scratches.[13]

Aftermath

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When the tower controllers were unable to reach the aircraft after it landed, they called for the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) safety patrol to check the runway, where they found the disabled aircraft.[8] MIAA dispatched its Rescue and Firefighting Division, and all available airport fire trucks were sent to the crash site. Twelve minutes after the accident, MIAA Airport Police arrived to secure the area, followed by MIAA's medical team to treat any injuries.[12] After the passengers and crew were evacuated from the aircraft, they were taken to a holding area in the airport's Terminal 1. In the terminal, airport authorities set up a special lounge for disabled passengers, senior citizens, and passengers with infants. They provided bottled water and blankets to all passengers.[12] The airline provided food to the passengers and crew before taking them to a hotel.[13]

At 2:10 am, the investigative team arrived, led by the Director-General of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), along with members of the Aircraft Accident Investigation and Inquiry Board.[12] They set up a mobile command post and tents around the accident area.[14] They gathered evidence and removed the flight data recorder from the aircraft, then unloaded the cargo and luggage from the plane. The investigative team spent four hours analyzing the scene before releasing the site to the cleanup crew.[12] Interviews with the flight crew revealed that heavy rains obstructed the pilot's view of the runway during the landing, but the crew did not declare an emergency with air traffic control.[15]

At 6:10 a.m., officials completed their investigation of the site, and the clean-up operation was able to begin. The initial plan was to raise the aircraft out of the mud using airbags, lower the gear, and tow the plane to a safe location. However, after raising the plane, the landing gear was found to be extensively damaged and unusable, so it was necessary to use a crane to remove the aircraft.[12] Crews were also unable to remove approximately four tons of fuel in the aircraft, because the fuel pump was damaged and an important valve was closed.[16] MIAA was able to rent two cranes from a local company that could lift the damaged jet from the runway and place it on a flatbed truck.[17] However, the deployment of the cranes and removal of the aircraft took another 26 hours, hindered by the muddy terrain, torrential rain, and lightning alerts.[12] The damaged aircraft was taken to the Balagbag ramp near the airport's Terminal 3, where it was unloaded.[18]

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has safety standards that require no hazards or obstructions to either side of an active runway within 490 feet (150 m). Because the final resting place of the disabled aircraft was within that distance, Runway 06/24, the airport's main runway, remained closed for 36 hours until the cleanup and recovery was complete.[12] The airport's other runway, Runway 13/31, is known as the Domestic Runway. At only 8,500 feet (2,600 m) long and 150 feet (45 m) wide,[19] it is too short to handle widebody jets or many international flights.[20] The closure of the runway caused the cancellation of more than 200 domestic and international flights, while 17 inbound flights had to be diverted to other airports including some as far away as Tokyo, Hong Kong, Bangkok, and Ho Chi Minh City.[21][22] Airport authorities estimated that 250,000 passengers were affected by the closure and the related delays, cancellations, and diverted flights in the aftermath.[23]

After the airport reopened, representatives from XiamenAir stated that they would send seven planes to Manila within the day to transport the nearly 2,000 XiamenAir passengers that had been stranded at the airport, and send a team to work with Philippine aviation authorities in the accident investigation.[24] CAAP officials announced that the pilot and the first officer of the crashed plane had been barred from leaving the country pending the results of the accident investigation.[22][21] A Philippine presidential spokesperson hinted at the possibility of criminal charges being filed against the pilot for reckless imprudence resulting in damages.[21] However, a CAAP representative revealed that the pilot and first officer had been allowed to leave the country in the last week of August.[25][26]

Four days after the accident, XiamenAir issued a statement apologizing to all of the airport passengers affected by the incident and pledging to assist Philippine authorities.[27] The airline agreed to pay the costs of removing the aircraft and stated that they had provided more than 55,000 meals and water to the travelers that had been impacted by the closure of the airport.[28] On August 22, MIAA announced that XiamenAir would have to pay MIAA at least 15 million Philippine pesos (USD$280,000) to cover the costs of removing the damaged aircraft from the runway.[29] The announcement added that that figure was only an initial estimate and left it up to affected passengers to file lawsuits to recover personal damages.[29][30] Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines announced that they were considering lawsuits against XiamenAir for damages, revenue losses, and inconvenience from the accident.[30] By the end of August the estimated fines had increased to ₱33 million (USD$630,000).[17] In October, officials announced that the airline had already paid half the fine, with the second payment expected shortly.[31] A 2020 study in the Philippine Transportation Journal concluded that the overall cost to the Philippine economy from the accident amounted to ₱2.27 billion (USD$43,100,000).[32]

The accident and the closure of the airport also led to calls to expand the airport or to construct or expand additional airports in the region to prevent similar economic disruptions if a similar incident were to occur in the future.[33][34] Those proposals included the construction of a new terminal for Clark International Airport to increase passenger capacity,[35] the expansion of Ninoy Aquino International Airport with new terminals and runways,[36] and the construction of a new international airport at Bulakan, Bulacan.[37] In addition, Senator Richard Gordon stressed the need to reopen the closed Subic Bay International Airport to relieve congestion at NAIA.[34]

Aircraft

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B-5498, the aircraft involved, seen in 2015 in the previous Xiamen Airlines livery

The aircraft involved in the accident was a Boeing 737-85C (WL), registration B-5498 with Manufacturer Serial Number 37574 and line number 3160. It was powered by two CFM International CFM56-7B24 turbofan engines and first flew on January 14, 2010.[1] Investigators found that the maintenance records of the aircraft showed that it had been maintained in according to Boeing standards and that it had a valid and current certificate of airworthiness at the time of the accident.[2]: p3  After the accident, the aircraft was written off and scrapped.[38][39]

Passengers and crew

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At the time of the incident, the aircraft contained 157 passengers, 5 cabin crew members, an air security officer, and the two pilots.[2]: p1  There were no serious injuries resulting from the accident, but some passengers suffered superficial scratches.[40]

The captain of the aircraft was identified as a Korean male who was 50 years old and had 16,000 hours of flight experience, with 7,000 hours on the Boeing 737-800 aircraft type.[27] The first officer was a Chinese male, 28 years old, with a total of 950 flying hours, including 750 hours on the Boeing 737-800 aircraft type.[27] At the time of the flight, the captain was the pilot flying the aircraft.[27]

Investigation

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CAPP officials began the investigation of the accident shortly after the accident.[12] Investigators retrieved the aircraft's flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder and interviewed the flight crew.[22] By August 24, the two recorders had been taken to Singapore to have them decoded to attempt to determine the cause of the accident.[41] By August 31, investigators in Manila had received voice transcripts and data readouts from the recorders. They announced that they expected a final report on the accident to be released soon.[42] In October, CAAP officials stated that they expected to have a final report by November.[43]

On August 19, Senator Grace Poe called for the Senate to investigate the aftermath of the accident to determine whether the airport was prepared for such an emergency and to get an explanation of why it took 36 hours to remove the disabled aircraft. She also said she was concerned about the crowded conditions in the airport terminals and how passengers were forced to endure significant delays without the airlines offering enough water and meals.[44] During hearings on August 29, authorities identified several lapses in the airport's response, including delays in obtaining high-capacity cranes, failing to provide meals to stranded passengers, and a lack of training to prepare for this type of incident.[45]

In an undated executive summary of the accident investigation released to the public on August 8, 2019,[46] CAAP concluded that the accident was caused by the decision of the captain to proceed with the landing of an un-stabilized approach with insufficient visual reference. It also found that the captain did not apply sound crew resource management practices when he disregarded the first officer's call for a go-around. The investigation found that factors contributing to the accident included the crew's failure to discuss strategies for dealing with inclement weather, crosswind conditions, the possibility of low-level wind shear, and NOTAM information on runway lights that were out of service. It found that the airline policy was inadequate on the procedure of go-arounds and found design and construction violations on the runway that left uneven surfaces and concrete obstacles. CAAP made recommendations for the XiamenAir to strengthen company policies of actions that must be taken by a pilot once a call out of "Go-Around" is made by the pilot monitoring, including establishing no fault "Go-Around" policies and ensuring that crews receive sufficient training on the policies. The report also recommended that the airport review and update its disabled aircraft removal plan and ensure that its equipment is sufficient for current operations at the airport.[2]: pp4-5 

Legacy

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As a result of the accident, XiamenAir revised its flight crew policies on how to handle go-around situations. The airline added training for rainy and wet runways during nighttime operations to its initial and recurrent simulator training program for Boeing 737 pilots. It also amended its policies to prohibit takeoffs and landings during heavy rains and prohibited landings in moderate rains during night flights when the runway center line light is not working or not available. In addition, it revised its safety standards and training regimens to increase daily communication and cooperation between Chinese and non-Chinese pilots. Officials at the airport performed upgrades to the runway to remove the concrete electrical junction box obstructions and to perform other rehabilitations.[2]: pp2-3 

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "ASN Aircraft Accident Boeing 737-85C (WL) B-5498 Manila-Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL)". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Aircraft Accident Investigation and Inquiry Board, Accident Accident Report, Investigation Report B-5498, Executive Summary". Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines. Archived from the original on 27 September 2020. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  3. ^ "Flight Track Log - CXA8667 16-Aug-2018 (XMN / ZSAM-MNL / RPLL)". Flight Aware. 16 August 2018. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  4. ^ Wen, Xin; Meidong, Hu (17 August 2018). "Chinese Jetliner Makes Hard Landing in Philippines". China Daily. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  5. ^ "Xiamen Airlines MF8667 Flights in August 2018". Flightera.net. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  6. ^ Wilson, Darryl (January 2015). "Xiamen Air to Launch Manila Flights Next Month". Philippine Flight Network. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  7. ^ "Watch: Moment 737 Skids Off the Runway Filmed by Passenger as They Land in a Thunderstorm in Manila". 1news.co.nz. 17 August 2018. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  8. ^ a b Ager, Maila (29 August 2018). "Xiamen Plane 'Disappeared' Minutes Before Landing – CAAP". Inquirer.net. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  9. ^ "Ninoy Aquino International NOTAM B3578/18". Federal Aviation Administration. 8 August 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  10. ^ Mercene, Recto (20 May 2018). "Expect the Worst as Naia Undergoes Runway Refurbishing". Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  11. ^ "China Plane Skids Off Rainy Manila Runway; All Aboard Safe". Voice of America News. Associated Press. 17 August 2018. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i Masigan, Andrew J. (23 September 2018). "The Truth About the Xiamen Air Crash". BusinessWorld. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  13. ^ a b Gomez, Jim (17 August 2018). "Xiamen Air Boeing 737 Skids Off Rainy Manila Runway, Rips Off Engine, Wheel". USA Today. Associated Press. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  14. ^ "China's Xiamen Airlines Plane Skids Off Runway at Manila's Airport". Xinhuanet.com. 17 August 2018. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  15. ^ Esperas, Raoul (19 August 2018). "Xiamen Pilot Blames Heavy Rains for NAIA Runway Overshoot: Sources". ABS-CBN News. Archived from the original on 19 August 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  16. ^ Ager, Maila (29 August 2018). "Tugade 'Hurt' by 'Inutil' Tags on Xiamen Incident". Inquirer.net. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  17. ^ a b Romero, Paolo (30 August 2018). "Philippines to Fine Xiamen Air P33 Million". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  18. ^ Viray, Jill (5 September 2018). "Royal Cargo Rescues Stalled Xiamen Plane From NAIA Runway". Royal Cargo. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  19. ^ Mercene, Recto (17 February 2021). "Much Improved Runway 13/31 at Naia Inaugurated". Business Mirror. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  20. ^ Santos, Rudy (19 August 2018). "Operations at NAIA Return to Normal Xiamen Incident an Eye-opener – DOTr chief". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  21. ^ a b c Gita, Ruth Abbey; Calayag, Keith A. (20 August 2018). "Investigations Into NAIA Runway Accident Start". SunStar. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  22. ^ a b c "Xiamen Air Pilot, First Officer Barred From Leaving PH". Inquirer.net. 19 August 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  23. ^ Salaverria, Leila B. (30 August 2018). "NAIA Officials Tell Senate Probers They Didn't Assist Stranded Passengers". Inquirer.net. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  24. ^ "Manila Airport Resumes Operation Following Removal of Damaged Plane". Xinhuanet.com. 18 August 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  25. ^ Ager, Maila (29 August 2018). "Pilot of Ill-fated Xiamen Jet Has Left the Country – CAAP". Inquirer.net. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  26. ^ Santos, Rudy (4 September 2018). "Xiamen Air Black Box Decoded; Results With CAAP". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  27. ^ a b c d "Gov't Considering Penalties Against XiamenAir". BusinessWorld. 20 August 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  28. ^ Cabico, Gaea Katreena (23 August 2018). "Xiamen Airlines Commits to Pay for NAIA Mishap Costs". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  29. ^ a b Mercurio, Richmond (22 August 2018). "Xiamen Airlines Told to Pay Initial P15 Million". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  30. ^ a b Zurbano, Joel E.; Cruz, Maricel V. (22 August 2018). "Xiamen Charged P15m for Mishap". Manila Standard. Vol. XXXII, no. 188. p. 1. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  31. ^ Orellana, Faye (24 October 2018). "Miaa: Xiamen Airlines Firm Pays Half of Penalty Cost For Naia Mishap". Inquirer.net. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  32. ^ Chan, Brian Irvyn; Fillone, Alexis; Roquel, Krister Ian Danial; Yu, Krista Danielle (June 2020). "Assessing the Economic Impact of the Closure of Ninoy Aquino International Airport Caused by Xiamen Air Flight 8667: A Dynamic Interoperability Input-Output Approach" (PDF). Philippine Transportation Journal. 3 (1): 34–44. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  33. ^ Monte, Celerina (20 August 2018). "Palace Says Xiamen Airlines to be Held Accountable, Apology Not Enough". ManilaSTV. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  34. ^ a b Cabico, Gaea Katreena (20 August 2018). "NAIA Runway Mishap Signals Need to Develop Other Airports - Senators". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  35. ^ Cabuenas, Jon Viktor D. (21 August 2018). "Xiamen Air Incident Renews Interest in NAIA Rehab, Possible Alternatives". GMA News Online. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  36. ^ "Consortium Submits P350-B Proposal to Rehabilitate NAIA". GMA News Online. 13 February 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  37. ^ Cabuenas, Jon Viktor (26 April 2018). "SMC's Airport Proposal, 7 Other Projects Get NEDA Board Approval". GMA News Online. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  38. ^ "Six Aviation Loss Trends On the Radar". Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  39. ^ "Accident Boeing 737-85C (WL) B-5498, Thursday 16 August 2018". asn.flightsafety.org. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  40. ^ Zhang, Benjamin; Ma, Alexandra (17 August 2018). "Chinese Boeing 737 Crash-lands at Manila Airport". Business Insider. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  41. ^ Zurbano, Joel E. (24 August 2018). "CAAP Gave 61 Airlines Go Signal - tower chief". Manila Standard. Vol. XXXII, no. 190. p. 1. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  42. ^ Zurbano, Joel E. (4 September 2018). "CAAP Says Final Report on Xiamen Plane Incident Out Soon". Manila Standard. Vol. XXXII, no. 201. p. 3. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  43. ^ Arayata, Ma. Cristina (12 October 2018). "Xiamen Air Fiasco Final Probe Out By Nov.:CAAP". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  44. ^ Ramos-Araneta, Macon; Araja, Rio N. (20 August 2018). "Runway Mishap Triggers Call for Probe, Options". Manila Standard. Vol. XXXII, no. 186. p. 1. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  45. ^ Romero, Paolo (10 September 2018). "Senate Resumes Probe on Xiamen Air Accident". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  46. ^ Hradecky, Simon (8 August 2019). "Accident: Xiamen B738 at Manila on Aug 16th 2018, Runway Excursion on Landing". The Aviation Herald. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
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