Plane skids off runway at Ho Chi Minh City airport, tires damaged

According to the Tan Son Nhat Airport Operations Center, the A320 aircraft, flight number VJ1149, traveling from Hanoi to HCMC, encountered an issue while landing on runway 25R at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

The incident report revealed that after taxiing to the parking position, the flight crew discovered two severely torn tires on the right rear landing gear, with grass and debris around the tires. It was suspected that the aircraft had skidded off the runway and struck a runway light during landing.

An inspection confirmed that one runway light was broken, and traces of grass were pressed along the edge of the runway. As a result, the airport's control tower temporarily halted operations on runway 25R from 7:10 p.m. for cleaning, reopening the area by 7:45 p.m.

According to the flight captain's report, there was light rain and wind, reducing visibility as the aircraft approached Tan Son Nhat Airport. The crew assessed that the conditions were still safe for landing. The aircraft touched down in the center of the runway but was soon hit by a heavy rainstorm, causing hydroplaning, which led the aircraft to skid and move off the edge of the runway.

Hydroplaning occurs when a vehicle's tires lose contact with the road due to a layer of water, reducing control over steering and braking.

A Vietjet Air representative stated that the heavy rain, strong winds, and sudden crosswind gusts created unfavorable landing conditions. However, the aircraft landed safely, with the flight crew following proper procedures.

After passengers were transferred to the terminal, technical checks were swiftly conducted without affecting airport operations. "The crew handled the situation quickly and professionally, ensuring the safety of all passengers," the airline representative confirmed.

The Civil Aviation Authority under the Ministry of Transport has formed an investigation team to determine the cause of the incident in coordination with relevant parties.