Hawaiian Airlines A321 Overruns Runway on Landing at Kahului

Kahului, HI – On July 11th, 2024, a Hawaiian Airlines Airbus A321-200N, registration N227HA, overran the runway during landing at Kahului Airport on the island of Maui. The aircraft, operating as flight HA-29 from Seattle, Washington, was carrying 173 passengers and 6 crew members at the time of the incident. Despite the runway overrun, there were no injuries reported, and the aircraft sustained no damage.

Incident Overview

The aircraft landed on Kahului’s runway 02 at approximately 13:24 local time (23:24 UTC). However, it was unable to stop within the runway’s designated length and overran the runway, coming to a stop about 100 meters (330 feet) past the runway end on the paved surface of the runway end safety area.

The aircraft was safely brought to a halt, and all passengers and crew remained uninjured. After the incident, the aircraft was towed to the apron about 30 minutes later.

Response and Initial Findings

Hawaii’s Department of Transportation (DOT) reported that the overrun forced a temporary closure of runway 02/20 at Kahului Airport, impacting operations until the aircraft was safely removed and the runway inspected.

Hawaiian Airlines issued a statement indicating that the aircraft experienced braking issues during the landing. Despite the problem, the crew managed to bring the aircraft to a complete stop on the runway surface, specifically on the paved safety area designed for such contingencies.

ADS-B data from the incident suggest that the aircraft touched down within the designated touchdown zone, approximately 600 meters (2,000 feet) from the runway threshold, at a ground speed of about 120 knots. The aircraft continued down the runway and crossed the runway end at about 40 knots, finally stopping about 100 meters beyond the runway’s official end.

Safety and Operational Implications

Runway overruns, while not common, are significant events in aviation, especially on an island like Maui where runway lengths can be a critical factor. In this case, the incident highlights the importance of effective braking systems and the necessity of runway end safety areas (RESA) to mitigate the risks of overruns.

The investigation into this incident will likely focus on the aircraft’s braking performance, including the condition of the brakes and any contributing factors such as speed, runway conditions, and weather at the time of landing. This analysis will help determine whether the incident was an isolated mechanical failure or if other factors played a role.

Conclusion

The successful resolution of this runway overrun incident by the Hawaiian Airlines flight crew ensured that all passengers and crew remained safe and unharmed. The event underscores the importance of runway end safety areas in providing an additional margin of safety during landings, particularly when issues such as brake failures arise.

As investigations continue, Hawaiian Airlines and relevant aviation authorities will likely review the circumstances of the incident to enhance operational procedures and prevent similar occurrences in the future. This incident serves as a reminder of the complexities of modern aviation and the critical importance of maintaining robust safety protocols at every stage of flight.