KATHMANDU: A preliminary investigation report into the January 2 runway excursion involving a Buddha Air, ATR 72-500 registration 9N-AMF, at Chandragadhi Airport in Bhadrapur, Jhapa has pointed to a late touchdown and delayed braking as key factors in the incident, in which the aircraft overran the runway by 183 metres before coming to a halt beyond the aerodrome's inner fence.

The report was published on February 20 by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Commission.

The findings

According to the report, Flight BHA 901 touched down at approximately 420 metres from the end of Runway 10 — a significantly late point on the runway. Visible skid marks beginning at around 1,112 metres along the runway indicated that braking action was taken by the crew, but the aircraft could not be stopped within the remaining runway length.

After touching down, the aircraft veered right and then left before exiting the runway, breaking through the aerodrome's inner fence and coming to rest approximately 183 metres east of the runway threshold. Both main and nose landing gears, propellers and engines sustained substantial damage.

The report notes this was the fifth and final flight of the day for the crew, with the co-pilot serving as pilot flying for the sector and the Pilot-in-Command acting as pilot monitoring. Weather at the time of the incident showed light wind from 230 degrees at four knots and visibility of 3,000 metres in mist — conditions that the investigation team is continuing to analyse alongside all other factors.

The report stresses that no areas of investigation have been ruled out at this stage.

All 56 people on board, 51 passengers and five crew members, evacuated safely through the service door on the right and the emergency door on the left. Five people, one crew member and four passengers, sustained minor injuries. There were no serious or fatal casualties.

The commission has retrieved and analysed data from both the Flight Data Recorder and Cockpit Voice Recorder, processed at the Transport Safety Investigation Bureau of Singapore under the supervision of the investigation team. Preliminary interviews with the crew, air traffic control staff, search and rescue personnel and ground support teams have been completed.

The investigation is being carried out in accordance with Civil Aviation Investigation of Accident Regulations 2014 and ICAO Annex 13 standards, with the sole objective of preventing future accidents. Final findings will be published upon completion of the full investigation.