AirAsia Zest A320 Overshoots Runway in Kalibo

An AirAsia Zest Airbus A320-200 overshot a runway while landing at Kalibo International Airport on Sep. 18, coming to rest completely off the apron. No passengers or crew were injured in the incident, but emergency slides were deployed for the evacuation.

The aircraft, RP-C8972, was carrying 159 passengers and crew on flight Z2-272 from Manila to Kalibo.

The preliminary report from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Aircraft Accident Investigation and Inquiry Board (AAIIB) stated the likely cause was the pilot "disregarding normal and standard basic operating procedures" and opting to land rather than initiate a "go-round" or missed approach procedure.

AAIIB said the decision not to abort the initial landing was a "clear manifestation of poor judgment on the part of the pilot in command, which violates the basic rules of the air and apparently endangers flight safety."

Weather reports indicate strong winds and heavy rain as a result of nearby Tropical Storm Jangmi. Locally, a 10 knot tailwind and a wet runway are likely to have contributed to the eventual halt of the aircraft some 200 ft. beyond the end of the runway.

This is the third major incident from AirAsia's regional subsidiaries within the last year.

In December 2014, Indonesia AirAsia A320 flight QZ8501 crashed into the Java Sea, killing 162 passengers and crew. Days later, another A320 suffered a similar off-runway landing overshoot at Kalibo, but with no injuries.