Qatar B788 at Doha on Jan 10th 2023, steep descent after takeoff

Last Update: February 8, 2023 / 09:38:02 GMT/Zulu time

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Photo of Qatar Airways A7-BCO, Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner — Qatar Airways A7-BCO, Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (Photo credit: Alec BHX/KKC / Flickr / License: CC by-sa)

Incident Facts

Date of incident
Jan 10, 2023

Classification
Incident

Airline
Qatar Airways

Flight number
QR-161

Departure
Doha, Qatar

Destination
Copenhagen, Denmark

Aircraft Registration
A7-BCO

Aircraft Type
Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner

ICAO Type Designator
B788

A Qatar Airways Boeing 787-8, registration A7-BCO performing flight QR-161 from Doha (Qatar) to Copenhagen (Denmark), departed Doha's runway 16L in night time conditions at 02:00L (23:00Z Jan 9th) and had climbed to about 1800 feet when the aircraft entered a steep descent losing 1000 feet within 24 seconds. The aircraft was subsequently recovered, climbed out and continued to Copenhagen where the aircraft landed safely about 6 hours later.

According to information The Aviation Herald received on Feb 7th 2023 the first officer was pilot flying. At about 1600 feet the aircraft was cleared direct to the next waypoint and the first officer attempted to turn towards that waypoint flying manually and without flight director indications (the captain was slow to put the Direct into the FMS) but lost situational awareness sending the aircraft into a descent that reached 3000 fpm sink rate and exceeded the flap speed limits until the captain took control of the aircraft and recovered about 800 feet above water. The occurrence was not reported to the authorities and only came to light later.

ADS-B Data show the aircraft reached about 1850 feet MSL measured to standard pressure (QNH 1013) then entered a descent reaching 850 feet (standard pressure) 24 seconds later while turning from 157 degrees true (runway heading) to about 110 degrees true, the aircraft subsequently levelled off momentarily and began to climb again.

The airline reported on Feb 8th 2023, that they are aware of an incident of QR-161 on Jan 10th 2023, an internal investigation is ongoing and the event has been immediately reported to the authorities.

Metars:
OTHH 091700Z 13010KT CAVOK 21/14 Q1018 NOSIG
OTHH 091800Z 13008KT CAVOK 20/15 Q1018 NOSIG
OTHH 091900Z 13009KT CAVOK 20/15 Q1018 NOSIG
OTHH 092000Z AUTO 14011KT CAVOK 20/16 Q1016 NOSIG
OTHH 092100Z AUTO 14010KT CAVOK 20/17 Q1016 NOSIG
OTHH 092200Z AUTO 14011KT CAVOK 20/17 Q1015 NOSIG
OTHH 092300Z AUTO 15010KT CAVOK 20/18 Q1015 NOSIG
OTHH 100000Z AUTO 16010KT CAVOK 20/18 Q1014 NOSIG
OTHH 100100Z AUTO 16009KT CAVOK 20/18 Q1014 NOSIG
OTHH 100200Z AUTO 16009KT CAVOK 20/18 Q1014 NOSIG
OTHH 100300Z 17008KT 9000 NSC 21/18 Q1015 NOSIG