Introduction
On 23 October 2022, a Korean Air Airbus A330-300, registration HL7525, operating flight KE-631 from Seoul Incheon (South Korea) to Cebu (Philippines), suffered a runway overrun after landing on Runway 22 at Mactan-Cebu International Airport (RPVM). The aircraft attempted multiple approaches before finally touching down on its fifth attempt.
During the second approach, the aircraft made unintended ground contact before the runway threshold due to a sudden increase in descent rate, damaging the right main landing gear (MLG). This resulted in cascading failures affecting braking, spoilers, and thrust reversers, leading to the aircraft overrunning the runway at approximately 80 knots ground speed.
The aircraft came to a stop about 360 meters past the runway end, colliding with the localizer antenna and suffering substantial structural damage. Fortunately, all 162 passengers and 11 crew members evacuated safely, with no reported injuries.
The Philippines’ Civil Aviation Authority (CAAP) and South Korea’s ARAIB investigated the incident, concluding multiple contributing factors, including severe weather conditions, landing gear failure, braking system issues, and procedural deficiencies in Airbus’ alerting and crew operations manual.
Flight & Incident Overview
• Aircraft: Airbus A330-300
• Operator: Korean Air
• Flight Number: KE-631
• Route: Seoul Incheon (ICN) → Cebu (RPVM)
• Date: 23 October 2022
• Occupants: 162 passengers, 11 crew
• Injury Report: None
• Aircraft Damage: Substantial structural damage, nose gear collapse, fuselage penetrations
• Investigation: Led by CAAP, supported by South Korea’s ARAIB
Sequence of Events
Initial Approach and Go-Arounds
• The aircraft was cleared for Runway 04, but ATC changed the active runway to 22 due to shifting wind conditions.
• The first approach to Runway 22 was aborted due to sudden heavy rain, leading to a missed approach and a standard hold at 5,000 feet.
• The second approach encountered wind shear and turbulence, causing a hard touchdown just before the paved surface of the runway.
• Right main landing gear (RH MLG) impacted a 15cm step at the runway edge, damaging critical components.
• The crew initiated a go-around but received multiple ECAM (Electronic Centralized Aircraft Monitoring) warnings, indicating landing gear and braking system faults.
Emergency Holding & Third Attempt
• After assessing the Landing Gear Control Interface Unit (LGCIU) faults, the crew attempted a third landing, but the landing gear failed to extend properly.
• A manual gravity extension was performed, but the right main gear indicator failed to illuminate.
• The crew aborted the third approach, returning to a holding pattern to troubleshoot the issue.
Fourth Approach & Braking System Failure
• The aircraft declared a MAYDAY emergency before initiating a fourth approach.
• The hydraulic blue reservoir low-level warning appeared, indicating a loss of brake pressure.
• The crew attempted to execute the QRH procedure, but the braking system had already transitioned to alternate mode with limited functionality.
• The aircraft continued descending, and upon touchdown, the crew lost control of the braking system.
Runway Overrun & Evacuation
• The aircraft failed to decelerate, overrunning Runway 22 at approximately 80 knots ground speed.
• The nose gear collapsed as the aircraft impacted the localizer antenna and runway approach lighting system.
• The aircraft came to a complete stop about 360 meters past the runway end at coordinates 10°17’41.8”N, 123°57’59.9”E.
• Passengers and crew evacuated via slides from doors L2 and R2, with emergency services responding immediately.
• No fire occurred, but significant damage was sustained to the nose and underbelly of the fuselage.
Investigation & Findings
Primary Cause Factors
1. High Vertical Speed on Second Approach
• Increased VSI (Vertical Speed Indicator) readings indicated a rapid descent rate.
• The captain applied forward pitch, leading to ground contact before the runway threshold.
2. Right Main Landing Gear Structural Failure
• The RH MLG impacted a 15cm step at the runway’s paved/unpaved transition, resulting in structural damage.
• Multiple landing gear faults (LGCIU 1 & 2) and braking system errors occurred due to damaged components.
3. Loss of Braking & Deceleration Systems
• The brake servo control interface unit (BSCIU) failure led to dormant braking system failure.
• Loss of spoilers and reversers further reduced stopping capability.
Contributory Factors
1. Severe Weather Conditions
• Low visibility, heavy rain, and turbulence contributed to unstabilized approaches.
• Wind shear and downdrafts forced multiple go-arounds.
2. Deficiencies in Airbus Crew Operating Procedures
• Blue hydraulic low-level faults were not effectively communicated in Airbus manuals.
• QRH procedures did not adequately address multiple simultaneous failures.
3. Runway Infrastructure Issues
• The 15cm step at the threshold of Runway 22 was not compliant with ICAO Annex 14.
• Improper grading contributed to landing gear damage during the second approach.
Safety Recommendations & Preventative Measures
1. Improvements in Crew Training & Go-Around Decision-Making
• Enhanced go-around training for unstable approaches and wind shear conditions.
• Revised protocols for handling multiple ECAM failures before initiating landing.
2. Airbus Aircraft System Enhancements
• Modifications to Airbus alerting logic for simultaneous braking and landing gear failures.
• Review of QRH procedures for landing with multiple hydraulic and braking system faults.
3. Runway Safety & Infrastructure Upgrades
• Compliance with ICAO Annex 14 standards for runway surface transitions.
• Redesign of Runway 22 threshold to eliminate hazardous elevation changes.
4. Enhanced Airport Weather Monitoring & ATC Coordination
• Improved wind shear alerting systems for pilots on approach.
• More proactive ATC guidance during severe weather conditions.
Conclusion
The runway overrun of Korean Air flight KE-631 at Cebu was the result of a combination of factors, including severe weather, high descent rate, landing gear failure, and braking system issues.
Despite multiple go-arounds and emergency troubleshooting, the crew was unable to restore full braking capability, leading to an uncontrolled overrun at high speed.
The investigation highlighted deficiencies in Airbus’ crew procedures, airport infrastructure issues, and the complexity of dealing with simultaneous aircraft system failures.
Future safety measures will focus on improving aircraft system design, refining emergency procedures, and ensuring runway compliance with international safety standards.
Disclaimer
“This report is based on available information as of 14 March 2025. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, the completeness of the details cannot be guaranteed. If you are the rightful owner of any referenced materials and wish them removed, please email takedown@cockpitking.com.”
