Air Jamaica runway excursion
 

Not sure of the details but it looks like an Air Jamaica 340 has had a minor overrun 27L at LHR...

Having just spoken to one of my most esteemed colleagues at LHR in the tower. The AJM A340 did not leave 27L. It was taxi-ing on the airfield and has got the nose wheel, right bogey and centre bogey stuck on the grass near taxiway K.

Passengers in the process of being removed, return flight tonight cancelled! Engineeers currently assesing the removal of a/c from grass and inspections required.!!

Taxying out, got to SATUN, heard tower "From where we are it looks like you are stuck on the grass!!". Highly embarassing! :}
A couple of fire engines turned up as we were rolling for take-off.

Evening all! Firstly I would like to thanks to GT3 for his kind comments. Its the nicest thing anyone within NATS has ever said to me :{

Secondly, when I left work this evening around 9pm, the first attempt to remove the stricken AJM failed and they were gonna give it one more go this evening. The way it is positioned means max B763 behind it on Bravo which has caused interesting ground control, especially for the heavies from Juliet and Kilo.

The way they're doin' it is pulling the aircraft back the way it entered the grass area rather than tow it forward. They will eventually move it to PLUTO for an inspection and a bit of a wash. I hopes its moved from there in time for 27R deps in the morning.

I'm sure my colleagues who left a little later than me may be able to give us an update...

Cheers!

BTW - whats a runway excursion? Is it like a vacation?

Should have got all the passengers to help pull it out!!! :}

Erm, guess it's like an incursion but the other way around? I only got a C in english...still, you know what I meant!!

I'd say 'excursion' was about right! :D

they make it sound like such fun :} when it isnt :*

Are there any clues as to why it happened? I wondered if it it was a problem with nose wheel steering after having looked at it. At first I thought it was a late decision to try and get onto Alpha from Bravo via Juliet but the turn would have to have been misjudged so badly. The nose gear and the belly wheel both went through the mud.

Sure it was not via Kilo? B-J-A heading east would take you into work in progress.

Quite correct. I meant Kilo.

Crew missed the turn and attempted to make it anyway.
Then proceeded to taxi half on half off the grass until one of the wheels met a lovely concrete block.
A/C recovered to Virgin Hangar area by BA Engineering specialist recovery team.
Was recovered late last night.

I am willing to bet it was a nosewheel steering problem, those guys have a pretty good record.

How much would you like to bet......i can give you a PO Box to send the cash to.....!

:{ until one of the wheels met a lovely concrete block...
With all due respect, what do you mean for a lovely concrete block?
I just would like to understand it correctly.
Regards,
FJP

The Full Story !!
 

Air Jamiaca 002 6Y-JMM was routeing East on "B". He was instructed to turn left on "K" and hold short of "Pluto".

He relised he had gone too far but still decided to attempt to the turn much to the First officers surprise.

The nose wheel infringined grass area 9B folloowed by the starboard and central Undercarriage. The starboard side demolished a yellow mandadory taxiway sign which in turn sits on top a concrete block. He tried to power himself out of trouble but with no luck. The nosewheel ended up on "A" taxiway
Pax deplaned on site and Virgin who carry out the engineering contacted the specialist BA recovery team to assist with recovery of aircraft. 27R Departures was de alternated to 27L and "B" taxiway which was infringed was downgraded to B767 with marshalling asistance.

Crew admitted their mistake and were very apologetic . They were breath tested as a matter of course.

AAIB were notified but declined to attend although MOR filed.

The aircraft was winched out backwards and towed to VS hanger for inspection. Still there now.

Due to the text book recovery and initial incident response apart from slight delays in "K" CDS regarding pushbacks there were no airfield delays and everything was back to normal by 11pm.

Another fine day at the office !!!

FJP This is more British humour! By using the word 'lovely' that would not normally be used in this context the writer, Fargoo, was highlighting the misfortune of the pilot. Had the wheels met a large signpost instead or a big patch of mud, then the same 'lovely' might have been used. It is one of those uses of colloquial English in the South East of England that is almost impossible to explain!!

Why the :D ??? Sounds like someone may have a jealous streak in them. Why are you gloating over a fellow airman's misfortune?? It's a shame that your age(38) doesn't reflect your maturity:E

SD,

...and who's going to make all that happen when we're gone??? (we got ours Thusday)

TheOddOne