An Airbus A320 (registration HK-4507) from Avianca had to be evacuated moments before takeoff at Pereira Airport, Colombia, after the flight crew detected an issue.
The case gained significant public attention due to the images of the deployed evacuation slides, passengers on the runway, and rescue teams, but overall, it was not an incident of major severity or one that put the aircraft at risk, this was precisely due to the timely actions of the crew and adherence to safety protocols.
Avianca stated in a press release that the aircraft experienced «an apparent failure in one of the engines during takeoff, so the crew promptly decided to stop the flight and remain on the ground.»
The evacuation of passengers was carried out without any injuries reported, and Avianca later assisted them with accommodation and rebooking on subsequent flights.
«Our pilots and crew are trained and prepared to act in such situations. We understand that what occurred caused distress among the passengers, and we had the team available to assist them,» said Juan Esteban Kappaz, flight operations director and Airbus A320 pilot for Avianca.
The airline also added that they will conduct a thorough investigation of what happened «in accordance with protocols and in cooperation with our suppliers and the relevant authorities.»
NOW | Situation at Matecaña International Airport in Pereira:
-Ground personnel towed the aircraft to clear the runway.
-Cleaning and inspection are being carried out to resume operations. pic.twitter.com/CXpDiConHu
— Aeronáutica Civil (@AerocivilCol) November 28, 2024
