Ethiopian B763 at Arusha on Dec 18th 2013, landed on short runway at wrong airport and runway excursion

An Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 767-300, registration ET-AQW performing flight ET-815 from Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) to Kilimanjaro (Tanzania) with 213 people on board, was on approach to Kilimanjaro's runway 27 (length 3600 meters/11,800 feet) where a light aircraft was on the runway near the threshold of runway 09/end of runway 27 and was cleared to land on runway 27 with reduced length of 3200 meters. The aircraft however touched down on Arusha's runway 27 (length 1620 meters/5300 feet) at 13:15L (10:15Z) and came to a full stop just prior to the runway end. Subsequently the crew turned the aircraft left for backtracking, the aircraft came to a stop with all gear on soft ground. No injuries occurred, the aircraft received no visible damage.

The airline confirmed the aircraft diverted because a Cessna was disabled on the runway of Kilimanjaro, however, did not explain why the aircraft diverted to Arusha (27nm from Kilimanjaro Airport) with too short a runway rather than diverting to Dar es Salaam (Tanzania, 240nm from Kilimanjaro), Mombasa (Kenya, 154nm from Kilimanjaro) or Nairobi (Kenya, 127nm from Kilimanjaro) featuring suitable runways.

An investigation has been opened into the occurrence.

Ground witnesses report, that the crew managed to bring the aircraft to a full stop just before the end of the runway, but then attempted to maneouver the aircraft to backtrack the runway which is when they went off paved surface.

A listener on frequency reported the aircraft was sent into a holding at Kilimanjaro NDB (KB, 293kHz) southwest of Kilimanjaro Airport and south of Arusha Airport. Arusha's runway was visible from the holding with the same orientation as Kilimanjaro's runway (09/27 at 3600 meters length). The crew thus obviously believing to land at Kilimanjaro Airport touched down at Arusha.

Another listener on frequency reported the next day that the crew was advised the Cessna would soon be removed from the runway convincing the crew to remain in the hold. The crew finally called in declaring emergency and reporting that they no longer had sufficient fuel to reach Nairobi, Dar es Salaam or Mombasa (editorial remark: with required minimum fuel reserve remaining intact). Following the emergency the aircraft was cleared to land on Kilimanjaro's shortened runway 27, the crew was told the Cessna was still on the runway near the threshold of runway 09, the Boeing 767 however did not show up at the airport.

Several passengers reported that after holding they were told they were now approaching Kilimanjaro airport, they would land to the west due to the Cessna still near the western end of the runway. The landing was rough as expected, only then it was discovered that they had landed at the wrong airport. After turning onto the grass they were stuck on the aircraft for about 3.5 hours until stairs arrived from Kilimanjaro Airport, in the meantime some emergency exits were opened to re-introduce some air circulation into the cabin and calm discontent amongst the passengers.

Arusha's airport said the aircraft landed in Arusha by mistake, they were not supposed to land at Arusha and did not communicate with Arusha tower. The aircraft came to a complete stand still just before the end of the runway but then went off the runway.

In a press release on Dec 19th Tanzania's Civil Aviation Authority reported that the Boeing 767-300 contacted Kilimanjaro at 12:29L and was instructed to continue the flight to Kilimanjaro and report the airfield in sight, the crew was advised the runway 27 end was displaced due to a disabled light aircraft, runway length available for landing was 3,200 meters (instead of 3,600 meters). The crew subsequently reported to have the airport in sight and was cleared for a visual approach to runway 27. The crew subsequently reported to be at left base and was cleared to land on runway 27. After a while without seeing the aircraft Kilimanjaro tower tried to contact the crew via radio however without success. Arusha's tower called in some time later reporting the aircraft had landed on their runway, 1640 meters long while the Boeing 767-300 requires 1798 meters for landing at maximum landing weight.

Metars Kilimanjaro:

HTKJ 181100Z 09010KT 9999 FEW032CB SCT033 31/17 Q1012 NOSIG

HTKJ 181000Z 09012KT 9999 FEW030CB SCT031 31/17 Q1012 NOSIG

HTKJ 180900Z 09010KT 9999 FEW028SC SCT280 30/18 Q1013 NOSIG

Metars Arusha:

HTAR 181100Z 33010KT 9999 FEW026 FEW027CB 26/15 Q1016

HTAR 181000Z 33015KT 9999 FEW026CB BKN026 26/15 Q1017

HTAR 180900Z 33010KT 9999 FEW026CB SCT026 26/15 Q1018

Metars Nairobi:

HKJK 181200Z 04010KT 9999 FEW027CB BKN028 25/15 Q1017 NOSIG

HKJK 181130Z 07010KT 9999 BKN027 25/14 Q1017 NOSIG

HKJK 181100Z 06012KT 9999 BKN027 24/14 Q1018 NOSIG