Runway excursion - Sochi i går - 170 ombord - 18 skadd - ASN

Accident: UTAir B738 at Sochi on Sep 1st 2018, overran runway on landing

By Simon Hradecky, created Saturday, Sep 1st 2018 08:05Z, last updated Saturday, Sep 1st 2018 10:03Z A UTAir Boeing 737-800, registration VQ-BJI performing flight UT-579 (Aug 31st) from Moscow Vnukovo to Sochi (Russia) with 164 passengers and 6 crew, landed on Sochi's runway 06 at 02:57L (23:57Z Aug 31st) but overran the end of the runway and came to a stop in a river bed past the runway. The aircraft's left engine (CFM56) burst into flames. The aircraft was evacuated, 18 occupants were injured, the others remained unhurt, one airport worker died of a heart attack. The aircraft received substantial damage beyond repair. The aircraft was initially vectored for an approach to runway 02 by approach, however, runway assignment was changed to runway 06 due to the weather developing. The aircraft aborted the first approach to Sochi's runway 06 descending through about 2300 feet due to changing winds (now reported from 200 degrees instead of 60 degrees), positioned for another approach to runway 06 and went around from about 400 feet MSL again due to changing winds, positioned for the third and last approach to runway 06 (winds reported at 2m/s (4 knots) from 060 degrees on tower frequency), which ended in the runway overrun about 30 minutes after the first aborted approach and about 11 minutes after the go around. The airline reported the aircraft carried 164 passengers and 6 crew. The aircraft went off the runway and dropped into a river bed, as result landing gear and wings collapsed, the left engine ignited. Sochi Airport Emergency services put the fire out, the occupants were evacuated. Authorities are investigating the accident. Russia's Ministry of Health reported 18 passengers were injured, 8 of which were taken to a hospital. Russia's Ministry of Emergency reported the aircraft overran the end of the runway into a river, the landing gear and a wing were destroyed, the left engine caught fire and burnt the left wing. The Southern Transport Prosecution Office reported the aircraft overran the runway, both left and right hand wings were burned, a number of passengers were injured. The Investigative Department of the Southern Transport Prosecution Office have opened an investigation. The airport of Sochi reported one of their workers died as result of a heart attack while rescue and recovery work was ongoing during the accident. The Interstate Aviation Committee (MAK) reported the aircraft VQ-BJI of UTAir rolled beyond the end of the runway after landing and received substantial damage due to the roll out and subsequent fire. There were no fatalities. The MAK have established an investigation commission.