Flight Details
Aircraft Type: Boeing 737-8AS Operator: Ryanair Registration: EI-DLV Flight Number: FR2640 Route: London Stansted (STN), United Kingdom to Dortmund (DTM), Germany Date of Incident: 5 December 2022 Total Occupants: 175 (169 passengers, 6 crew) Weather Conditions: CAT II low visibility procedures in force; visibility fluctuating between 600 and 1,800 metres; continuous snowfall; overcast skies; runway 100% wet and covered with 2 mm of wet snow; ambient temperature 0°C
Introduction
On 5 December 2022, a Ryanair Boeing 737-800 arriving from London Stansted overran the end of runway 06 at Dortmund Airport during landing in snow-contaminated conditions. The aircraft, performing a CAT II instrument approach, touched down within the touchdown zone at reduced visibility and braking performance, eventually coming to rest 45 metres beyond the end of the runway on the paved clearway. The aircraft remained on its landing gear and was able to taxi to the apron under its own power. No injuries were reported. The German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation (BFU) classified the occurrence as a serious incident and released its final report on 16 April 2025.
Sequence of Events
Flight FR2640 was a regularly scheduled afternoon service from London Stansted to Dortmund. Weather conditions at Dortmund were challenging due to low visibility, continuous light snow, and overcast skies throughout the approach window. The aircraft was vectored for an instrument landing system (ILS) approach to runway 06 under CAT II minima, which were in effect due to reduced runway visual range (RVR).
The aircraft executed a fully stabilised CAT II approach using Autoland. The touchdown occurred at 15:29 local time, within the prescribed touchdown zone of runway 06. All systems including ground spoilers and thrust reversers deployed as expected, and manual braking was applied immediately upon landing.
Despite these actions, the aircraft failed to decelerate within the available 1,700-metre landing distance and continued beyond the runway end, coming to rest approximately 45 metres into the paved clearway. There was no structural damage to the aircraft, and no excursions beyond paved surfaces. The crew subsequently taxied the aircraft to the terminal unaided.
Crew & Communication
The flight was operated by a Ryanair crew trained and certified for CAT II approaches. According to the BFU report, the crew conducted a full landing performance calculation prior to arrival, taking into account runway length, weather conditions, and braking action reports. The Landing Distance Required (LDR) was within the declared Landing Distance Available (LDA) of 1,700 metres.
Air Traffic Control provided the most recent runway condition reports during the approach phase. The last report issued approximately eight minutes prior to landing indicated Runway Condition Codes (RWYCC) of 5/5/5 — signifying good braking action on a wet runway with no significant contamination. This information was relayed to the flight crew by radar approach control and formed the basis of their decision to continue the approach.
There was no emergency declaration during or after the overrun, and standard communication procedures were followed throughout.
Aircraft Systems & Technical Analysis
The aircraft’s landing configuration was normal, with Autoland systems engaged and all deceleration systems functioning as designed. The spoilers deployed automatically, reverse thrust was applied on both engines, and the main wheel brakes were engaged immediately after touchdown.
Data from the flight data recorder confirmed touchdown occurred within the correct touchdown zone and at appropriate airspeed. There were no indications of mechanical malfunction or flight control anomalies.
The primary contributing factor identified was a mismatch between the reported and actual runway surface conditions. Although runway friction measurements had supported a RWYCC of 5/5/5 earlier in the day, continued snowfall between the time of that report and the aircraft’s touchdown led to a degraded braking surface not accurately reflected in the most recent runway assessment. The runway was, in reality, covered with 2 mm of wet snow, producing significantly lower braking friction.
Passenger Experience & Cabin Conditions
There were no injuries among the 169 passengers and 6 crew members. Cabin conditions during the approach and landing were normal, with no turbulence or flight instability reported.
Passengers may not have been immediately aware of the overrun due to the aircraft remaining upright, on paved surfaces, and decelerating under full braking authority. There was no activation of the emergency slides, and all passengers disembarked via standard airport equipment at the gate following taxi-in.
Emergency Response & Aftermath
Airport emergency services were placed on standby during the low-visibility landing operation but were not dispatched following the overrun. The aircraft came to a stop within the clearway, not breaching airport perimeter or causing infrastructure damage.
Runway 06 was temporarily closed following the incident for inspection and clearance operations. No foreign object damage or tyre debris was found, and the aircraft did not sustain damage. Airport operations resumed shortly after.
The BFU was notified of the incident and initiated a full investigation, citing the runway overrun and snow contamination under low-visibility conditions as qualifying factors for a serious incident classification.
Investigation Status
The BFU released its final report on 16 April 2025. The investigation concluded that the approach and landing were executed correctly and in accordance with standard operating procedures. However, it found a significant discrepancy between the runway condition report used by the crew and the actual surface condition at the time of landing.
The most recent runway assessment was conducted eight minutes before the aircraft touched down and showed no change in RWYCC from the earlier 1205 UTC report. However, between this time and the aircraft’s landing, continued light snow accumulation created a surface layer of wet snow approximately 2 mm thick, significantly degrading braking effectiveness.
The BFU also noted that the RVR remained above CAT II minimums throughout, and that the approach itself was stable and well-executed.
Root Cause & Contributing Factors
The primary cause of the overrun was identified as reduced braking action on a snow-contaminated runway surface, which had deteriorated between the time of the last runway condition assessment and the landing of flight FR2640.
Key contributing factors included:
The reported Runway Condition Code of 5/5/5 was based on measurements taken prior to continued snowfall. The crew had no reason to doubt the accuracy of the braking action report, which indicated the surface was wet but not contaminated. The landing was fully stabilised, within touchdown parameters, and deceleration systems performed as expected. The actual runway friction was significantly reduced due to the unreported accumulation of wet snow.
Safety Recommendations & Industry Impact
The BFU recommended improved runway surface condition monitoring procedures during continuous precipitation events. Specifically, it highlighted the need for updated assessments when conditions are changing rapidly, as well as closer alignment between ATC communications and real-time surface monitoring.
Additionally, the report may prompt airport authorities to reassess protocols for frequency of runway assessments under snow or slush conditions, especially when visibility procedures (CAT II/CAT III) are in place and operational margins are narrower.
Ryanair was not found at fault operationally, and no deficiencies were noted in its approach briefing, performance calculations, or SOP adherence.
Conclusion
The Ryanair 737-800 runway overrun at Dortmund on 5 December 2022 was the result of degraded runway conditions that were not reflected in the latest available surface reports used by the flight crew. Despite performing a stabilised CAT II approach and landing within the designated zone, the reduced braking friction caused the aircraft to exceed the available landing distance, resulting in an overrun of 45 metres into the clearway.
The incident illustrates the importance of timely and dynamic runway condition reporting in winter weather operations. It also reaffirms the effectiveness of flight crew training and aircraft systems in managing abnormal landing conditions without damage or injury.
Disclaimer
This article is based on publicly available information and reports at the time of writing. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, we cannot guarantee the completeness of the information provided.
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