Misaligned takeoff British Aerospace Jetstream 32EP, Flamingo International Airport
On 19 May 2024, a British Aerospace Jetstream 32EP departed from Flamingo International Airport in Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands, for a medevac flight to José María Córdova International Airport in Rionegro, Colombia. During takeoff, the aircraft struck three runway edge lights on the right side of the runway. The crew did not notice the collision and continued the flight without further issues. After landing, damage to both nose wheels was discovered during an inspection. On Bonaire, airport staff found three broken runway lights. Tire marks confirmed that the aircraft had taken off not from the center, but from the right edge of the runway.
-
Appendix A Responses to the draft report ‘Misaligned takeoff British Aerospace Jetstream 32EP, Flamingo International Airport’
Download pdf -
A good takeoff position requires proper visual orientation, teamwork, and infrastructure
Three elements play a crucial role in lining up an aircraft for takeoff: clear visual references, effective teamwork in the cockpit, and airport infrastructure that supports both. This is evident from a serious incident at Flamingo International Airport (Bonaire) on 19 May 2024, where an aircraft departed from the right edge of the runway. The Dutch Safety Board investigated the occurrence and identified broader lessons.
Visual orientation during nighttime departures
Nighttime takeoffs without runway centerline lighting present a challenge for pilots in positioning the aircraft accurately, especially when visual reference points are absent or misinterpreted. In this case, the captain deviated from the taxi line on the turn pad, resulting in the aircraft being positioned at the right edge of the runway. The absence of lighting on the turn pad made it difficult to visually determine the aircraft’s correct position in the dark. The captain mistook the white runway edge lights for the centerline lights.
Cockpit collaboration and communication
Equal and open communication in the cockpit is essential, especially when there is uncertainty about the aircraft’s position or alignment. During lineup, the first officer was tasked with communicating with air traffic control and conducting checklists, which may have delayed his recognition of the misalignment. When he noticed the aircraft was not aligned with the centerline, he pointed it out to the captain multiple times, with increasing urgency. Although the captain acknowledged and attempted to correct, the adjustments did not result in full alignment with the centerline. The hierarchical structure in the cockpit may have influenced the first officer’s reluctance to intervene more decisively. “There is always a degree of hierarchy in a cockpit. But it should never come at the expense of safety. Pilots must feel free to speak up when something is not right. Only if they work together can a flight truly be safe,” says Chris van Dam, Chair of the Dutch Safety Board.
Learning from the incident
This incident highlights broader concerns for nighttime operations at airports without centerline lighting. Improved training on the risks of misalignment, additional visual aids on runways, and a review of Crew Resource Management training, to encourage more assertive responses to deviations, can help prevent similar incidents in the future.
