Jetstar A320 at Christchurch on May 31st 2024, temporary runway excursion on landing

Last Update: March 18, 2026 / 19:01:07 GMT/Zulu time

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Photo of Jetstar Airways VH-VFF, Airbus A320 — Jetstar Airways VH-VFF, Airbus A320 (Photo credit: Ev Brown / Flickr / License: CC by)

Incident Facts

Date of incident
May 31, 2024

Classification
Accident

Airline
Jetstar Airways

Flight number
JQ-225

Departure
Auckland, New Zealand

Destination
Christchurch, New Zealand

Aircraft Registration
VH-VFF

Aircraft Type
Airbus A320

ICAO Type Designator
A320

Airport
Christchurch International Airport, Christchurch

Airport ICAO Code
NZCH

An Jetstar Airbus A320-200, registration VH-VFF performing flight JQ-225 from Auckland to Christchurch (New Zealand), landed on Christchurch's runway 02 at 07:45L (19:45Z May 30th) and slowed when at low speed the aircraft began to veer to the right, temporarily went off the paved surface onto grass about 2050 meters/6700 feet down the runway before returning onto the runway's paved surface and coming to a stop at the right hand edge of the runway. There were no injuries, the aircraft received minor damage.

Passengers reported that the crew told them the aircraft had suffered a hydraulic leak at the right hand side during approach, after touchdown the right hand engine just seemed to spool up and caused them to vacate the runway, the aircraft swerved to the right and took a few runway edge lights out, they had to bring the aircraft to a stop for safety reasons, they were safe, emergency services were checking around the aircraft that everything was safe.

The airline reported a steering issue caused the runway excursion. There were no injuries, the aircraft was towed to the apron. New Zealand's TAIC is investigating.

New Zealand's TAIC opened an investigation into the occurrence.

On Jun 17th 2024 the TAIC reported on descent towards Christchurch the crew received a low yellow hydraulic quantity indication, which impacted nose gear steering. Upon landing the aircraft temporarily veered off the runway, impacted a runway sign and received damage to the right hand engine. The TAIC rated the occurrence an incident and opened an investigation.

On Mar 18th 2026 the TAIC released their final report concluding the probable causes of the accident were:

- The yellow hydraulic system failed during the cruise phase of a flight between Auckland and Christchurch. This resulted in the loss of nosewheel steering and the No. 2 engine thrust reverser.

- The hydraulic pipe failed as a result of overload stress on the inside surface at a deformed section of the pipe. The deformity was very likely caused when the new part’s packaging was damaged in transit from the Airbus Filton warehouse in Bristol, United Kingdom to the Airbus Fuhlsbüttel warehouse in Hamburg, Germany. However, the part was not subsequently inspected for damage and remained labelled as a serviceable item. The damage was not detected before installation or while it was in service.

- Cyclic fatigue, due to the pressurisation and depressurisation of the hydraulic fluid at each engine start-up and shut down, very likely exacerbated crack formation.

- The operator’s standard operating procedure for landing with a yellow hydraulics system failure allowed the captain to decide if they should land and remain on the runway or, if the opportunity existed, to steer off the runway with differential braking. In a situation of heightened task attention and risk, this standard operating procedure introduced greater risk.

- The captain elected to land at the planned destination and use rudder and differential braking to steer the aeroplane off the runway at a rapid exit to avoid causing delays to other aircraft during the morning peak at Christchurch.

- As the aeroplane approached the runway exit, the captain unintentionally pushed the thrust levers from reverse, further forward past FWD IDLE and into CLIMB. This error was not detected.

- It is likely the captain was startled by the unexpected acceleration to CLIMB power and pulled the thrust levers back into REV MAX. The resulting reverse thrust from engine No. 1 and forward thrust from engine No. 2 caused an asymmetric thrust output and turning moment to the left.

- The captain lost directional control of the aeroplane, which then turned left and ran off rapid exit A4, over the grass area and back to the runway, where it stopped.

- The FCTM provided no guidance on use of differential braking specifically for steering off the runway using a rapid exit. When the flight crew used the rapid exit with nosewheel steering unavailable, this increased their cognitive workload and the risk of an incident.

- There is a risk that Airbus A320 pilots could move the thrust levers while on the ground to an unintended position that would lead to an unexpected increase in engine thrust.

Related NOTAMs:
B3077/24 NOTAMN
Q) NZZC/QMAXX/IV/NBO/A /000/999/4329S17232E005
A) NZCH B) 2405302101 C) 2405310500 EST
E) MOVEMENT AREA GUIDANCE SIGN TWY A4 U/S

B3081/24 NOTAMN
Q) NZZC/QMRLC/IV/NBO/A /000/999/4329S17232E005
A) NZCH B) 2405302119 C) 2405302230
E) RWY 02/20 CLSD

B3082/24 NOTAMR B3081/24
Q) NZZC/QMRLC/IV/NBO/A /000/999/4329S17232E005
A) NZCH B) 2405302130 C) 2405310100
E) RWY 02/20 CLSD

Metars:
NZCH 301930Z AUTO 19001KT 9999 NCD 00/00 Q1017=
NZCH 301900Z AUTO 28003KT 9999 NCD 01/00 Q1016=
NZCH 301830Z AUTO 33001KT 9999 NCD 01/01 Q1016=
NZCH 301800Z AUTO 27002KT 9999 NCD 01/01 Q1016=
NZCH 301730Z AUTO 32002KT 9999 NCD 02/01 Q1016=
NZCH 301700Z AUTO 24001KT 9999 NCD 01/00 Q1015=
NZCH 301630Z AUTO 34001KT 9999 NCD 02/01 Q1015=
NZCH 301600Z AUTO 22001KT 9999 NCD 03/02 Q1015=
NZCH 301530Z AUTO 27001KT 9999 NCD 04/03 Q1015=