A Malaysia Airlines Airbus A330-300 encountered a close call on September 7, 2023, when it overran a runway that had been shortened to approximately 2 kilometers. During takeoff, the aircraft soared just seven meters above an ongoing airport worksite.

At the time of the incident, each of the planes involved was carrying over 200 passengers. The narrow escape highlighted the potential for serious consequences, yet fortunately, no collision occurred. “It was sheer luck that we avoided an impact,” remarked an official familiar with the situation.

The investigation revealed that the flight crews did not verify the reduced runway length with air traffic control, who in turn did not question the crews about this critical oversight. This communication breakdown underscored the importance of rigorous safety protocols.

In response to the incident, authorities have undertaken a comprehensive investigation, emphasizing the need for stringent safety recommendations. The goal is to prevent similar occurrences, particularly in Australia, where such lapses in procedure could have dire consequences.

‘Workload and time pressures’

The flight crews also failed to confirm the shortened runway with air traffic control, which in turn failed to challenge them.

“That’s why we’ve been so detailed in the investigation, but also in our safety recommendations to ensure that this type of thing does not occur, particularly in Australia, again.”

What happens next?