There were no injuries to passengers or crew after an ATR 72-500 operated by Air Vanuatu was involved in a runway excursion while landing at Port Vila Bauerfield airport on 28 July.
The aircraft, registered YJ-AV71, had operated a flight from Tanna and was carrying 39 passengers and crew, all of whom evacuated the aircraft after the incident.
Photographs taken on-site appear to show that the aircraft collided with two Britten-Norman Islanders that were parked at the airport, with one bearing significant damage to its forward fuselage.
Local reports say that the aircraft experienced an engine failure during the flight, but the airline would not comment on those claims, adding that it is co-operating with an investigation being led by the Civil Aviation Authority of Vanuatu.
“We are very grateful to our fantastic crew of two pilots and two flight attendants whose actions ensured no injuries to passengers. Whilst the experience was no doubt distressing for our passengers, we were pleased to receive their praise for the actions of our crew,” says Air Vanuatu chief executive Derek Nice.
The crash caused the temporary closure of the airport on 28 July, but the airline advises that it is back to operating its normal schedule.
Flight Fleets Analyzer shows that the ATR 72 was built in 2005 and is leased from Nordic Aviation Capital.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
