A Boeing plane suffered a “catastrophic failure” when a TUI flight skidded off the runway in a crash at Leeds Airport during Storm Babet, according to a report.
The flight, which last year carried more than 200 passengers from Corfu, was attempting to land at the airport in strong winds when the Boeing 737-800 skidded off the runway and became stranded on the grass.
It is understood that the airport’s emergency siren was activated when the plane skidded off the runway upon landing at around 1:53pm BST. Witnesses described it as a “hard landing.”
But in a new report, investigators said one of the airliner’s front wheel bearings had suffered a catastrophic failure that likely occurred during the final phase of landing, the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) found.
When the plane began to move to the left, the crew on board reported feeling significant shaking, but the full range of rudder application was not used to correct the drift, according to the AAIB report.
A Boeing plane suffered a “catastrophic failure” and skidded off the runway in a crash at Leeds Airport during Storm Babet in October 2023. Pictured: Dramatic photos showing the TUI plane lying on the side of the runway at Leeds Bradford Airport
Following investigations, the AAIB found that there was “no mechanical impediment” preventing the plane from taking off from the runway.
The crew had tried to regain control of the plane as it approached the outskirts of the runway, but they were unable to control it.
The airplane left the runway at a speed of approximately 100 km/h and came to rest six seconds later in muddy terrain approximately 500 feet beyond the taxiway.
Following investigations, the AAIB found that there were “no mechanical impediments” preventing the plane from taking off ahead of the runway, but that the crew’s job was made significantly more difficult due to “nose wheel vibration.”
“The investigation did not identify any mechanical defect that would have prevented the crew from applying the additional right rudder that was available to keep the airplane on the runway,” the AAIB said.
“However, the crew’s actions may have been influenced by nosewheel vibration.”
Because the runway was wet, there is no evidence to suggest the aircraft skidded at any point, the AAIB investigation concluded.
A Leeds Bradford Airport spokesperson said: “Our security and compliance team worked closely with the Air Accident Investigation Division following the incident in October last year.
‘While supporting the AAIB, we also took the opportunity to conduct our own internal investigation to review our emergency response processes and procedures.
“We were satisfied that the findings presented in the AAIB bulletin issued on October 24 and the results reached in relation to the airport reflected the results of our own investigation.”
Malcolm Fell, who was on the flight, described the incident at the time as “a bit dramatic” but everyone on board was “pretty calm”.
Photos show the plane stuck in thick mud after skidding off the runway upon landing. No one was injured in the accident
Emergency services at scene after passenger plane skids off Leeds Bradford Airport runway
Storm Babet has caused chaos in Britain. Here, the photo shows the plane stranded on the grass.
The dire conditions can be seen as firefighters and ambulances surrounded the plane.
Recalling his experience, he said: “The plane descended and the pilot applied reverse on the brakes and started aquaplaning,” adding that it “seemed to accelerate rather than slow down.”
“My wife, who was sitting next to me, turned to me and said, ‘I think you better get ready because this is not going to stop.’
“And then all of a sudden… we were standing on the grass,” he said.
Passenger Fell said the left side of the plane was “covered in mud” after landing.
“Everyone was pretty calm, there was no shouting or drama or anything like that.
“It took about an hour to get us off the plane because the emergency services intervened to make sure the plane was safe before evacuating us.”
And he added: “Many thanks to the airport: they worked very well to get people off the plane.”
Footage showed the plane was quickly surrounded by emergency vehicles, including three ambulances, as they worked to try to evacuate passengers.
West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said no injuries or fire were reported. But all flights in and out of Leeds Bradford Airport have been temporarily suspended and some arrivals have been diverted to other airports, including Manchester.
