The bustling Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) in São Paulo was affected earlier today when a Boeing 737-800 with the registration CP-3151 from Boliviana de Aviación made a hard landing, causing exterior and interior damage to the aircraft.
Flight OB 736 made a flight and approach without incident, in fact, it arrived 30 minutes ahead of the scheduled time. At 12:12 (local time), the aircraft landed on runway 09R/27LR, but during the maneuver, part of the cabin ceiling and a winglet from the left wing detached.
A video captured the BoA incident live
SBGR Live has a YouTube account that captures the movement of Guarulhos International Airport live. SBGR was able to record the landing of OB 736, which at first glance seemed like a routine landing, but the detachment of a winglet caught the camera’s attention.
After landing, it continued taxiing to its parking position, as reported by the control tower and the Boeing 737. Two minutes later, pilots of other flights reported the external damage of the 737 to the control.
Immediately, the tower canceled the approach of flight LA 3269, which was on short final, and closed runway 09R/27L to inspect it for possible fragments from the Boliviana de Aviación Boeing 737-800.
Flights continued to land on the parallel runway, 09L/27R, slowing arrivals and departures at South America’s busiest airport.
Ground staff were able to clean the runway and remove the found fragments, allowing it to be reopened at 12:37 PM.
The return flight to Santa Cruz de la Sierra/Viru Viru (VVI), OB 737, was canceled due to the damage suffered by the Boeing.
Statement from Boliviana de Aviación
On Thursday afternoon, BoA issued a statement reporting that the Boeing 737-800 was carrying 156 passengers and 7 crew members.
After experiencing a mishap upon landing, it suffered «high vibration and damage to its external and internal structure which are being evaluated as part of the respective investigation process.» This process «will be carried out applying national and international regulations in order to determine the influence of each of the possible contributing factors (environmental, procedural, material, and/or human). The conclusions will allow all necessary actions to be taken.»
«Boliviana de Aviación reiterates its commitment to compliance with national and international regulations, as well as quality and safety standards, in all its operations,» they concluded.
