India B773 at New York on Sep 11th 2018, multiple instruments including localizer receivers lost

Last Update: September 11, 2018 / 15:23:39 GMT/Zulu time

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Photo of Air India VT-ALQ, Boeing 777-300 — Air India VT-ALQ, Boeing 777-300 (Photo credit: Kentaro IEMOTO@Tokyo / Flickr / License: CC by-sa)

Incident Facts

Date of incident
Sep 11, 2018

Classification
Incident

Airline
Air India

Flight number
AI-101

Departure
Delhi, India

Destination
New York JFK, United States

Aircraft Registration
VT-ALQ

Aircraft Type
Boeing 777-300

ICAO Type Designator
B773

An Air India Boeing 777-300, registration VT-ALQ performing flight AI-101 from Delhi (India) to New York JFK,NY (USA) with 370 people on board, was on final approach to JFK's runway 04R descending through about 300 feet AGL in reduced visibility (RVR reported at 3500 feet) when the crew initiated a go around reporting an unstable approach. The aircraft climbed to 2000 feet, back on approach frequency the crew advised they had lost multiple instruments on final approach including localizer, radio altimeters, two altimeters (with only one altimeter remaining), TCAS etc., they requested a longer final while being vectored for another ILS approach to runway 04R. After working the checklists the crew advised they could not perform an ILS approach and inquired for weather information of airports around the New York area permitting a non-precision approach, due to the ceiling at New York they weren't able to approach to JFK, ATC inquired whether they had autoland available which the crew stated they had lost auto-land too due to the multiple system failure,however, they had one radio altimeter and one basic altimeter still available to them. They needed an airport with a cloud ceiling of 600+ feet permitting a non-precision approach, their primary planned alternate had been Newark,NJ and their secondary alternate Stewart,NY. ATC reported the next airport available with 600+ feet ceiling was Albany,NY, the crew asked to also check Boston,MA advising they were getting low on fuel and needed to decide quickly. ATC suggested Bradley,CT would be the best option with 500 feet overcast with a forecast slight improvement. The crew queried the current ceiling at JFK considering a quick LNAV/VNAV approach into JFK might be an option. ATC advised Newark had just released a new METAR indicating 400 feet overcast ceiling, better than before, the crew decided to divert to Newark. The aircraft climbed to 5000 feet and diverted to Newark, the crew advised they would need to perform a LNAV/VNAV approach to Newark's runway, again stating they were unable to fly an ILS due to the instrument failures. ATC advised they would get cleared for an ILS approach runway 04R at Newark, however, the crew would then fly the VNAV procedure. The crew agreed and reported they had 7200 kg of fuel remaining at that point, when JFK approach inquired again whether at least one LOC receiver was available, the crew stated both localizer receivers were failed and unpredictable, they needed to do an LNAV/VNAV approach. On hand off to Newark Tower tower advised emergency equipment was standing by for the arrival. On final approach tower advised they were getting low on the approach and advised altimeter was 30.12. The aircraft continued for a safe landing on Newark's runway 04R about 90 seconds after the low altitude alert and about 38 minutes after the go around at JFK. The crew advised no further assistance was needed.

Metars JFK:
KJFK 111251Z 01004KT 1/8SM R04R/2000V2400FT FG VV002 19/19 A3014 RMK AO2 SFC VIS 1/2 DZE24 SLP204 P0000 T01890189=
KJFK 111151Z 03004KT 1/4SM R04R/2800V3500FT -DZ FG VV002 19/19 A3012 RMK AO2 SFC VIS 1/2 SLP198 P0000 60002 70086 T01890189 10189 20178 51013=
KJFK 111134Z 04006KT 1/4SM R04R/3000V5000FT -DZ BR SCT000 OVC002 18/18 A3011 RMK AO2 SFC VIS 3/4 BR SCT000 P0000 T01830183=
KJFK 111051Z 01005KT 1SM R04R/P6000FT -DZ BR FEW000 OVC003 18/18 A3010 RMK AO2 SFC VIS 1 1/2 SLP194 BR FEW000 P0000 T01830183=
KJFK 110951Z 36005KT 1 1/2SM -DZ BR OVC004 18/18 A3010 RMK AO2 SFC VIS 4 SLP191 P0000 T01780178=
KJFK 110941Z 35006KT 1 1/2SM -DZ BR OVC004 18/18 A3010 RMK AO2 SFC VIS 4 P0000 T01780178=
KJFK 110917Z 36005KT 1 1/2SM -DZ BR OVC005 18/18 A3009 RMK AO2 SFC VIS 3 P0000 T01780178=
KJFK 110851Z 02006KT 1 1/2SM -DZ BR OVC004 18/18 A3008 RMK AO2 SFC VIS 2 SLP185 P0001 60002 T01780178 50002=
KJFK 110751Z 35005KT 1 1/2SM -DZ BR OVC004 18/18 A3008 RMK AO2 SFC VIS 2 1/2 SLP186 P0000 T01830183=

Metars Newark:
KEWR 111251Z 03005KT 2SM BR OVC003 18/17 A3013 RMK AO2 SFC VIS 2 1/2 SLP202 T01830172 $=
KEWR 111205Z 36008KT 2SM BR FEW002 OVC004 17/17 A3012 RMK AO2 SFC VIS 2 1/2 T01720167 $=
KEWR 111151Z 01006KT 3/4SM R04R/P6000FT BR BKN002 OVC004 17/17 A3012 RMK AO2 SFC VIS 2 1/2 DZE48 SLP197 P0000 60000 70029 T01720167 10172 20144 51013 $=
KEWR 111051Z 01007KT 3/4SM R04R/P6000FT -DZ BR OVC002 17/16 A3011 RMK AO2 SFC VIS 1 1/2 SLP194 P0000 T01670161 $=
KEWR 111038Z 36009KT 3/4SM R04R/P6000FT -DZ BR OVC003 16/16 A3010 RMK AO2 SFC VIS 1 1/2 P0000 T01610156 $=
KEWR 110951Z 01007KT 2 1/2SM -DZ BR OVC003 14/14 A3009 RMK AO2 SLP189 P0000 T01440144 $=
KEWR 110851Z 36008KT 2 1/2SM -DZ BR OVC003 14/14 A3008 RMK AO2 SLP184 P0000 60000 T01440144 56001 $=