Iraqi B738 at Tehran on May 1st 2024, landed on closed runway

Last Update: May 8, 2024 / 19:15:51 GMT/Zulu time

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Photo of Iraqi Airways YI-ASI, Boeing 737-800 — Iraqi Airways YI-ASI, Boeing 737-800 (Photo modified based on photo from Anna Zvereva from Tallinn, Estonia / Wikimedia Commons / License: CC by-sa)

Incident Facts

Date of incident
May 1, 2024

Classification
Incident

Airline
Iraqi Airways

Flight number
IA-113

Departure
Najaf, Iraq

Destination
Tehran Imam Khomeini, Iran

Aircraft Registration
YI-ASI

Aircraft Type
Boeing 737-800

ICAO Type Designator
B738

Airport
Imam Khomeini International Airport, Tehran

Airport ICAO Code
OIIE

An Iraqi Airways Boeing 737-800, registration YI-ASI performing flight IA-113 from Najaf (Iraq) to Tehran Imam Khomeini (Iran), was cleared to land on Tehran's runway 11R however touched down on closed runway 11L at 16:40L (13:10Z). The aircraft rolled out without further incident coming to a brief stop about 1920 meters/6300 feet down the runway, turned around by about 135 degrees and vacated the runway via the high speed turnoff for runway 29R.

According to information The Aviation Herald received the crew was used to landing on runway 29R and became confused when the runway was switched to 11R. Runway 11L/29R was closed and NOTAMed closed for works in progress, workers were working on the runway shoulders. There were no injuries and no damage.

Iran's AAIB opened an investigation.

On May 8th 2024 The Aviation Herald was able to receive the preliminary report by Iran's AAIB in both Persian and English summarizing the sequence of events:

The flight was cleared by radar controller to follow standard arrival chart-instrument STAR 1-2, SAV 1R. subsequently, the pilot in command announced FL070 and asked tower controller’s clearance for approach continuance. The controller issued clearance to continue approach and reminded the pilot in command about separation from wake turbulence of the previous heavy traffic before landing. The pilot in command announced that he would keep FL070 and would need to make an orbit, out of the present position in order to lose height, but the controller asked him to descend as profile, and the pilot read it back.

At 13:09 UTC, the tower controller issued landing clearance on RWY11R, acknowledging the pilot about 120-degree 18 knots wind. The pilot in commend read back first “RWY11R” and then immediately “RWY11L”, but the controller did not realize the last wrong readback and the flight landed on the unauthorized RWY11L, which was closed for construction work, and entered the taxiway before reaching to construction area.

Related NOTAM:
A1459/24 NOTAMN
Q) OIIX/QMRLC/IV/NBO/A/000/999/
A) OIIE B) 2404240400 C) 2405201430
D) DLY / 0400 -1430
E) RWY 11L/29R CLSD BTN TWY N AND Y DUE TO WIP,
REMAINING PART OF RWY 11L/29R BTN TWY Z AND C USABLE FOR TAX.

Metars:
OIIE 011500Z 13016KT 9999 FEW040 SCT100 BKN200 25/01 Q1011=
OIIE 011400Z 12018KT 9999 FEW040 SCT100 25/M01 Q1011=
OIIE 011300Z 11016KT 9999 FEW040 BKN100 26/M03 Q1012=
OIIE 011200Z 13018KT 9999 SCT040 BKN100 26/M05 Q1012=
OIIE 011100Z 13018KT 9999 SCT040 BKN100 27/M05 Q1013=
OIIE 011000Z 15018KT 9999 SCT040 SCT100 27/M02 Q1013=
OIIE 010930Z 15017KT 9999 FEW035CB SCT040 BKN100 27/M01 Q1014=