AAIB report details Alliance Air ATR 72 runway undershoot at Bhubaneswar

This is the Final Investigation Report issued by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) of India regarding a serious incident on 08 October 2024 where an Alliance Air ATR 72-212A (VT-RKF) undershot the runway at Bhubaneswar Airport. It matters to citizens as it documents the factual sequence of events, damage, and safety findings for a scheduled passenger flight involving 47 people.

Who it concerns: The report concerns the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Alliance Air (operator), the crew and 43 passengers of flight VT-RKF, and the general public regarding aviation safety standards and incident reporting.

What the investigators found

• The aircraft (VT-RKF) touched down approximately 30.5 meters before the threshold of Runway 14 at Biju Patnaik International Airport, Bhubaneswar.
• The incident occurred on 08 October 2024 at 0850 UTC during a scheduled flight from Rourkela to Bhubaneswar.
• There were no injuries to any of the 47 occupants (43 passengers, 2 flight crew, 2 cabin crew) and no fire occurred.
• The aircraft sustained structural damage, including a puncture hole in the lower fuselage skin, damage to the left-hand landing gear bay structure, and a penetration hole in the left-hand inboard flap.
• The aircraft struck one Category I and four Category II approach lights located before the runway threshold.
• The investigation was conducted under ICAO Annex 13 and the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2025, with the objective of drawing lessons to prevent similar incidents rather than apportioning blame.
• The AAIB classified the occurrence as a 'Serious Incident (Runway undershoot)'.

Also in the document

• Prior to the incident, the aircraft had completed four uneventful sorties that day.
• Air Traffic Control initially instructed the crew to hold due to adverse weather (heavy rain, 800m visibility) and traffic congestion, before clearing them to continue the ILS approach.
• The crew reported a sudden sinking sensation and unusual vibrations in the cockpit while nearing the runway threshold.
• After landing, the Pilot-in-Command reported a suspected tail strike via landline, and foreign object debris from the damaged approach lights was found on the runway by another aircraft.
• The report states that the investigation is not intended to assess individual or collective responsibility.