ETHIOPIA – On the 10th of December, an Ethiopian Airlines de Havilland Dash 8-400 overran the runway during takeoff from Juba International Airport, South Sudan, leaving the aircraft disabled on soft ground.

The aircraft, registered ET-AQC, was performing flight ET357 to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with 21 people on board. During takeoff from Juba’s runway 31, the aircraft rolled off the end of the runway and came to a stop on soft muddy ground.

Pictures and reports from the incident present significant damage, including the collapse of the left main landing gear, damage to the left engine and broken propeller blades which also punctured the fuselage.

Juba International Airport reported that the aircraft was commencing its departure for Addis Ababa when it left the end of the runway. All 21 passengers and crew on board have been reported safe with no injuries and will be rebooked on another flight.

Ethiopian Airlines acknowledged that the aircraft was involved in an accident at Juba Airport, they also confirmed that passengers and crew disembarked safely and will be accommodated on the next available flight.

No METAR data is available, however weather at the time of the incident was reportedly windy and rainy; with heavy rain present during the takeoff run.

Captain Bernd Kai von Hoesslin, a type rated instructor for the Boeing 737 and a retired 737-800 and 737 MAX captain for Ethiopian Airlines, who left the company in April 2019, said the left hand propeller blades fractured, impacted and punctured the fuselage according to The Aviation Herald.

Recovery efforts to secure the aircraft and conduct an investigation are likely already underway.

Credit : The Aviation Herald