Report: Qatar Airways fires pilots involved in Miami takeoff incident

[ddd]

Qatar Airways has apparently sacked the pilots responsible for substantially damaging a Boeing 777 when it struck a set of runway lights during takeoff from Miami in September.

A preliminary investigation determined that the aircraft entered the runway at an incorrect intersection, rather than using its full length. This meant the runway was too short for the heavily loaded plane to safely take off.

As a result, the aircraft only became airborne at the very end of the runway.

The collision with the approach lights – located approximately 60m from the end of the runway – caused a 46-centimeter tear in the fuselage behind the rear cargo door, as well as 90 dents and scratches and some damage to a metal landing gear guard.

At the time of the incident, there were four members of the flight crew in the cockpit: the captain, first officer and two relief pilots.

‘First and last’ incident

Earlier today, the Sydney Morning Herald reported that all of the pilots on the flight deck that day had been fired.

Asked about their termination at a press conference this week, Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker said the incident was the “first and last” time something like this would happen.

[Wizofoz]

Really? AAB had previously said this sort of thing happens all the time.....

[Monarch Man]

Yep Wizz, it NEVER happens....

Runway overruns 'happen quite often': Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker (http://www.smh.com.au/business/aviation/runway-overruns-happen-quite-often-qatar-airways-ceo-akbar-al-baker-20151210-glkzi6.html)

Seems as though the man from Qatar may have had a moment of amnesia.

[Rather Be Skiing]

Maybe he means first and last time that those 4 pilots will do it! 😳

[agolmefudeu]

Maybe he means first and last time that those 4 pilots will do it! 😳

Specially in Qatar.... :}:}:}:}

[shedsd360]

Stellar safety culture over there in the pit...

[Old King Coal]

Report: Qatar Airways fires pilots involved in Miami takeoff incident - Doha News (http://dohanews.co/report-qatar-airways-fires-pilots-involved-in-miami-takeoff-incident/)

One suspects that the brutal combover is effecting his judgement & recollection?!

[fo4ever]

QR will never learn or change their safety culture.

[The Zohan]

Yes, but why the relief pilots? Even EK wouldn't have fired them...

tz

[Obbie]

I'm pretty sure EK fired all four guys from the Melbourne disaster.

Anyway, this is old news, they were let go back in late December.

[kipper the dog]

I am pretty sure EK only fired the two operating pilots from the Melbourne incident. Surprising, I know.

[my salami]

I am pretty sure EK only fired the two operating pilots from the Melbourne incident. Surprising, I know.

They didn't get fired... They have "resigned":}:}

[White Knight]

Only the two operating pilots 'left' from the EK 407. Relief guys still here AFAIK.

[TURIN]

Yes, but why the relief pilots? Even EK wouldn't have fired them...

Especially as, from what I hear, one of them saw the error and tried to point it out to the captain at the time and the captain dismissed it. :suspect:

[fo4ever]

Especially as, from what I hear, one of them saw the error and tried to point it out to the captain at the time and the captain dismissed it. :suspect:

Are you talking about the QR or the EK crew ?

[kipper the dog]

Are you talking about the QR or the EK crew ?

The QR crew.

[BeCareful]

Says a lot about the safety culture, doesn't it?

I really think it's a matter of 'when' and not 'if' when this tempo combined with this kind of mindset will lead to an accident. When it does, if I were an expat manager, I would be on the first plane out of the country because we all know that our dish-dashed hosts could never be held accountable due to loss of face, so guess where the big fat hairy finger will point?

[TURIN]

Yes, the QR crew. :suspect:

[tomuchwork]

Seems nothing has changed in the last 10 years in QR. Why am I not surprised? Strange to hear from other sides that the company improved so much.

Same old, same old in good old ME. Enjoy.

[Rather Be Skiing]

How prevalent is this 'safety' culture? Regionally? Globally

http://innerairmanship.com/blog/2016/03/08/we-will-not-accept-any-kind-of-lapses/

[fatbus]

ME is all about $$$. That's it.

[fo4ever]

Someone should write a book about the ME3 safety culture in which pilots could tell their stories.

Oh, sorry I forgot that if you stand up and identify yourself you will never get a job in an airline again - at least not in that part of the world.

[FLCHG]

Were all 4 expats ?

[Pin Head]

Just curious what is engine thrust rating t1?

[WrldWide]

T1 is not an engine variable. It formerly referred to a temporary runway restriction in the Boeing OPT, and in the MIA case by coincidence, a taxiway/runway intersection.

[rdr]

Wow, that was close. Its good to know that the crew and pax all survived.
Everything else is secondary.

[tarik123]

The culture in lots of companies in the gulf is to depart from intersections, as they assume that they will save fuel, although lots of times they end up holding at the intersection?? Use the full length of the runway. period.

[Aluminium shuffler]

Tarik, the amount of times I have seen someone waiting for a slot at the full length hold point and I have gone ahead of them from the intersection far outweighs your scenario. There are also some places without full length taxiways (permanently or just with WIP) where a backtrack would cost you a departure opportunity in a gap of arrivals. Far, far better to plan on intersection and use full length if there is no time penalty. It's called "flexibility", and comes under the general guise of "airmanship" and "planning".

[White Knight]

Tarik... Why use full length, period? If the performance allows you'll find you have so much more operational flexibility. After all, V1 is V1 is V1 no matter how much tarmac you've got!!!

Just make damn sure you are using the correct data and the correct intersection...