In March 2024, a United Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8, operating flight UA2477 from Memphis, ran off the runway at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, prompting an investigation by law enforcement and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
The incident involved the aircraft’s left main landing gear collapsing after it veered off the pavement following landing. Air traffic control (ATC) had instructed the pilots to “continue to increase speed,” which may have heightened the urgency to clear the runway quickly.
Originally planning to land on Runway 26L, the crew requested Runway 27 to minimize taxi time, but failed to conduct a required threat briefing and did not print necessary landing performance data. Despite indications of reduced braking performance, the captain selected a lower autobrake setting and misjudged runway conditions.
Touching down beyond the runway threshold, the aircraft continued at higher speeds, leading the captain to attempt a high-speed turnoff with limited runway left. This maneuver resulted in a collision with a concrete structure, causing the landing gear to separate, but fortunately, no injuries occurred among the 160 passengers and crew.
The NTSB report emphasizes the convergence of ATC instructions, pilot expectations, and runway assessments, highlighting the operational risks of rushing runway evacuations under uncertain braking conditions.
Source link
