Montpellier runway overrun
| Date | 24 September 2020 |
|---|---|
| Deaths | 0 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 0 |
The Montpellier runway overrun was a cargo aircraft accident involving a Boeing 737-400SF freighter, operated by Swiftair on behalf of West Atlantic Sweden. On 24 September 2020, the aircraft overran runway 30R while landing at Montpellier–Méditerranée Airport in southern France. The aircraft came to rest partly submerged in the adjacent Étang de l’Or lagoon. All three crew members survived without injuries.
Accident
The aircraft was operating flight SWN5745 from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport to Montpellier on a nighttime cargo run. During the landing on runway 30R, the aircraft touched down long, leaving insufficient runway distance to stop. It overran the end of the runway, crossed the runway end safety area, and came to rest with its nose section in shallow water at the edge of the Étang de l’Or.
Airport authorities immediately suspended all operations at Montpellier, and the runway remained closed for more than a day while recovery teams stabilized and removed the aircraft.
Aircraft
The aircraft involved was a Boeing 737-400SF, registration EC-NLS. Originally delivered as a passenger aircraft in the early 1990s, it was later converted to a freighter and operated by Spanish cargo airline Swiftair, which was conducting the flight on behalf of West Atlantic Sweden at the time of the accident.
Investigation
The Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety (BEA) opened an investigation shortly after the incident. Investigators collected data from the cockpit voice recorder, flight data recorder, and airport surveillance systems.
Early reporting indicated that the touchdown point was significantly beyond the intended landing zone, and nighttime conditions may have contributed to the crew’s situational awareness. The BEA continued to analyze factors including approach stability, crew decision-making, and runway conditions.
Aftermath
Montpellier–Méditerranée Airport suspended both commercial and cargo operations until recovery crews were able to secure and remove the aircraft from the edge of the lagoon. No pollution or fuel leakage was reported. Once the aircraft was moved, the airport reopened to traffic.
See also
References
- SimpleFlying: "West Atlantic Boeing 737F Overruns Montpellier Airport"
- SimpleFlying: "Montpellier Airport Resumes Operations After Stranded 737 Removed"
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