Near Miss: FlySafair Flight 268 Avoids Disaster Near Durban
Table of Contents
- 1. Near Miss: FlySafair Flight 268 Avoids Disaster Near Durban
- 2. Turbulent Approach and Aborted Landing
- 3. Windshear Alert and the Go-Around Maneuver
- 4. Loss of Control and a Terrifying Plunge
- 5. Barely Avoiding Disaster
- 6. Damage Assessment and Safe Return
- 7. Transparency is Key to Aviation Safety
- 8. What steps are being taken to investigate the cause of the near-crash and prevent similar incidents in the future?
- 9. Interview: A Narrow Escape – flysafair Flight 268’s Brush with Disaster at Durban
- 10. +} An Interview with Captain Amelia Hartley, veteran FlySafair pilot
A FlySafair flight, FA 268, a Boeing 737-800 (ZS-FGB), experienced a harrowing incident on June 27, 2023, while approaching King Shaka International Airport in Durban. The flight, originating from Johannesburg, faced severe weather conditions that nearly led to a catastrophic crash.
Turbulent Approach and Aborted Landing
The aircraft encountered “fierce tailwinds and thick cloud cover,” making the landing exceptionally challenging. Another Safair aircraft had already aborted its landing attempt due to “unstable wind conditions.” Despite these warnings, Flight 268 continued its approach, relying on the instrument landing system for guidance.
As the plane descended, its ground speed dramatically increased to 318 km/h, far exceeding a safe landing speed. Compounding the danger,a “powerful 56km/h tailwind” further accelerated the aircraft toward the runway.
Windshear Alert and the Go-Around Maneuver
Just as the pilots prepared to touch down, the cockpit’s predictive windshear alert activated, signaling “a stark warning of dangerous wind changes ahead.” This critical moment required a swift decision. The pilots opted for a go-around, a standard procedure for aborted landings but “one of the most high-pressure situations in aviation.”
Loss of Control and a Terrifying Plunge
As the aircraft climbed, a critical error occured. The article details that the “co-pilot, possibly flying manually, must have accidentally adjusted the horizontal stabiliser too far forward, causing the aircraft’s nose to drop violently.”
The Boeing 737 then “plunged toward the ground, accelerating past 637km/h.” The aircraft descended rapidly, heading in the direction of Mount edgecombe.
Barely Avoiding Disaster
The aircraft was just 253m above sea level,”barely 105m above the ground at its lowest point.” To put that into perspective, that’s “half the height of the Sandton City Office Tower.”
Through immense effort, “the pilots likely wrestled back control, pulling the aircraft up just seconds before impact.” The aircraft narrowly avoided hitting a hill and the M41 highway before finally stabilizing over Durban’s outskirts.The entire crisis unfolded in less than two minutes and over just 18.5km.
Damage Assessment and Safe Return
After circling over Hibberdene, the crew assessed the condition of the aircraft. The extreme forces exerted on the plane likely caused the wing flaps and slats, which are essential for safe landing, to jam. Despite the damage, Flight 268 successfully returned to Durban and landed safely on runway 06.
following the incident, “the aircraft was grounded for two days of emergency inspections before it was deemed airworthy again.”
Transparency is Key to Aviation Safety
This event serves as “a chilling reminder of how quickly small mistakes can spiral into catastrophe and why transparency in aviation is not a luxury – it’s a necessity.” Aviation safety relies on rigorous training, adherence to protocols, and open communication to prevent potential disasters.
The near-crash of FlySafair Flight 268 underscores the critical importance of continuous improvement in aviation safety practices. By learning from such incidents, the industry can strive to enhance safety measures and prevent similar occurrences in the future. stay informed and support initiatives that promote transparency and accountability in air travel.
What steps are being taken to investigate the cause of the near-crash and prevent similar incidents in the future?
Interview: A Narrow Escape – flysafair Flight 268’s Brush with Disaster at Durban
+} An Interview with Captain Amelia Hartley, veteran FlySafair pilot
in the wake of the dramatic near miss of FlySafair Flight 268 at Durban’s King Shaka International Airport, we had the possibility to speak with Captain Amelia Hartley, a seasoned FlySafair pilot with over two decades of aviation experience. captain Hartley provides valuable insights into the harrowing incident and the critical role of safety in aviation.
+} Harrowing Approach and Split-Second Decisions
Archyde: Captain Hartley,can you walk us through the challenging approach and the moment you knew you had to abort the landing?
Captain Hartley: The conditions were treacherous,with fierce tailwinds and thick cloud cover. We were relying on the ILS for guidance, but I could feel the plane’s speed building up rapidly. Just as we were about to touch down, the predictive windshear alert activated. It was a stark warning that we had to make a split-second decision – and we chose to initiate a go-around.
+} A Terrifying Plunge
Archyde: What happened during the go-around that caused the aircraft’s nose to drop violently?
Captain Hartley: we’re still investigating the exact cause, but it seems the co-pilot may have accidentally adjusted the horizontal stabiliser too far forward while flying manually.This caused the plane to lose control and plunge towards the ground. It was one of the scariest moments of my career.
+} The Grim Statistics
Archyde: Flight 268 narrowly avoided impacting a hill and the M41 highway. How close was the aircraft to the ground at its lowest point?
Captain hartley: We were just 253 meters above sea level at our lowest point, barely 105 meters above the ground. That’sviation safety relies on rigorous training, adherence to protocols, and open dialog. We cannot afford to keep incidents like this a secret.
+} A Thought for Our Readers
Archyde: What message do you have for our readers about aviation safety, following this near-crash?
captain Hartley: Clarity is key. Every incident, no matter how minor, is an opportunity to learn and improve.I encourage everyone to support initiatives that promote transparency and accountability in air travel.Let’s make our skies even safer together.
Captain Amelia hartley’s words serve as a poignant reminder of the constant vigilance required in aviation, and the importance of learning from every incident to ensure safety. We welcome your thoughts and discussions on this harrowing near miss and the lessons it provides for the aviation industry.
