Ryanair B738 at Budapest on Dec 7th 2012, priority landing after tower became inoperative

Last Update: January 30, 2013 / 15:39:10 GMT/Zulu time

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Incident Facts

Date of incident
Dec 7, 2012

Classification
Incident

Airline
Ryanair

Flight number
FR-8414

Departure
Paris Beauvais, France

Destination
Budapest, Hungary

Aircraft Registration
EI-DWK

Aircraft Type
Boeing 737-800

ICAO Type Designator
B738

A Ryanair Boeing 737-800, registration EI-DWK performing flight FR-8414 from Paris Beauvais (France) to Budapest (Hungary) with 146 passengers and 6 crew, was on approach to Budapest about to turn onto base when approach instructed the aircraft to abort the approach due to a fire in the tower, instructed the aircraft to climb to 6000 feet and enter a hold. The crew advised they had only 5 minutes of holding fuel and requested estimates for the holding time, then advised they would need to divert to Bratislava (Slovakia), and was offered a visual approach to runway 31R, a minute later approach announced the airport management had closed the aerodrome. FR-8414 was vectored towards Bratislava and cleared to climb to FL180.

Climbing through FL110 flight FR-8414 was told the airport would be open for them for a visual approach to runway 31R in CAVOK conditions, the crew opted to land on Budapest's runway 31R and requested priority. The aircraft landed about 10 minutes after the aerodrome officially closed and about 25 minutes after first indications of trouble on the tower.

At that time a British Airways Airbus A320-200, registration G-EUUM performing flight BA-868 from London Heathrow,EN (UK) to Budapest (Hungary), as well as a Eurowings Canadair CRJ-900 on behalf of Lufthansa, registration D-ACNP performing flight LH-3026 from Hamburg (Germany) to Budapest, and a Ryanair Boeing 737-800, registration EI-DLR performing flight FR-8353 from London Stansted,EN (UK) to Budapest, were all on approach to Budapest as well and had entered holds. Hearing that the aerodrome had been opened for FR-8414 for visual approaches all aircraft in the hold offered to accept a visual approach to runway 31R too. Approach needed to advise however, that the aerodrome management only accepted the priority aircraft, the aerodrome was closed, these 3 aircraft requested to divert to Bratislava, BA-868 diverted to Vienna in the end and the other 2 flights to Bratislava all for safe landings.

It emerged later that a heating pipe had fractured in the tower building and water had ingressed the wiring system taking out regular and backup power systems for the tower.

The aerodrome re-opened the following day at 07:00L (06:00Z). All flights in and out of Budapest were cancelled during that period of time.

On Dec 18th 2012 Hungary's Transportation Safety Board (KBSZ) reported the crew requested a priority landing reporting low fuel. The aircraft was the only one that was accepted although the aerodrome was already closed due to a technical problem at the airport. An investigation has been opened.

On Jan 30th 2013 the KBSZ announced the investigation has been closed after information received so far does not justify the continuation of the investigation.

Relevant NOTAM:
A2412/12 - AERODROME CLOSED DUE TO TECHNICAL REASON. 07 DEC 13:27 2012 UNTIL 08 DEC 07:00 2012 ESTIMATED. CREATED: 07 DEC 13:28 2012
Aircraft Registration Data
Registration mark
EI-DWK
Country of Registration
Ireland
Date of Registration
Nbkebilbplqj ije Subscribe to unlock
Manufacturer
THE BOEING COMPANY
Aircraft Model / Type
BOEING 737-8AS
ICAO Aircraft Type
B738
Year of Manufacture
Edeg Subscribe to unlock
Serial Number
Bcehn Subscribe to unlock
Maximum Take off Mass (MTOM) [kg]
Jbpgj Subscribe to unlock
Engine Count
P Subscribe to unlock
Engine
Hmhqqihlcecfic Subscribe to unlock
Main Owner
hed lpeiihcmdjbqfmAhiqnd jegeechqcjdpbAedAbAcAqclqgcqjhAdcebqjdg Subscribe to unlock
Incident Facts

Date of incident
Dec 7, 2012

Classification
Incident

Airline
Ryanair

Flight number
FR-8414

Departure
Paris Beauvais, France

Destination
Budapest, Hungary

Aircraft Registration
EI-DWK

Aircraft Type
Boeing 737-800

ICAO Type Designator
B738

This article is published under license from Avherald.com. © of text by Avherald.com.
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