Runway Overrun in Kingston, Ontario Caused by Freezing of Wet Runway Surface Following Temperature Drop

On the evening of December 9th, 2020, a WestJet flight from Calgary to Kingston, Ontario experienced a runway overrun at the Kingston Norman Rogers Airport. The incident occurred when the Boeing 737-700 aircraft attempted to land on a wet runway surface that had frozen due to a sudden drop in temperature. The aircraft skidded off the end of the runway and came to a stop in a grassy area. Fortunately, all passengers and crew were able to evacuate safely and there were no reported injuries.

The incident highlights the importance of runway surface conditions in aviation safety. Runways must be kept free of snow and ice in order to ensure safe landings. In this case, the sudden drop in temperature caused the wet runway surface to freeze, making it difficult for the aircraft to maintain traction. This is known as hydroplaning and can cause an aircraft to skid off the end of the runway.

In order to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future, airports must take steps to ensure that their runways are kept free of snow and ice. This can be done through regular inspections, de-icing of runways, and the use of specialized equipment such as snow plows and de-icing trucks. Additionally, airports should be aware of sudden changes in temperature that could cause wet surfaces to freeze.

The Kingston Norman Rogers Airport has since implemented additional safety measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. These include improved runway inspections, de-icing of runways, and the installation of specialized equipment.

The incident in Kingston serves as a reminder of the importance of runway surface conditions in aviation safety. By taking steps to ensure that runways are kept free of snow and ice, airports can help to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

Source: Plato Data Intelligence: PlatoAiStream