An Irish-registered Boeing 737-8200 MAX operating a flight from Barcelona suffered the blowout of all four main landing gear tyres upon landing at Milan Bergamo Airport on October 1, 2024, according to a safety investigation report by the ANSV. The incident, carrying 162 passengers and six crew members, resulted in significant damage to the aircraft’s wheels, braking system, and the runway surface, forcing a temporary closure for resurfacing before evening flights resumed.
Anti-Skid System Deactivation and Maintenance Factors
The ANSV safety investigation revealed that the aircraft’s anti-skid braking system had been deactivated the previous day following maintenance checks. According to investigators, a warning light had illuminated repeatedly during a series of flights out of Barcelona. Although ground crew conducted further maintenance checks, they found no specific faults and released the aircraft for flying with the anti-skid system still inoperative because a spare component was unavailable, as established by an on-duty technician.
Subsequent checks identified the failure of a sensor linked to just one of two anti-skid channels. Furthermore, the ANSV report identified a discrepancy in Boeing documentation regarding whether an operative anti-skid channel “must not” or “should not” be deactivated.
Did you know?
Following this runway incident, Ryanair internal investigations prompted the airline to slash its maximum repair window for fault rectification from 10 days down to just one single flight.
Flight Crew Procedures and Training Deficits
Both ground crew and flight pilots correctly planned and prepared the aircraft for landing without the anti-skid system and remained aware of the operational implications, according to the ANSV report. Investigators confirmed the aircraft reached the runway at the correct speed and rate of descent. However, pressure was inadvertently applied to the brakes before the speed brakes were deployed, causing the wheels to lock and resulting in the tyre blowouts.
Investigators also highlighted contributory factors involving crew training. According to the ANSV, Ryanair’s training programmes lacked practical flight simulator sessions for landing an aircraft with an inoperative anti-skid system. Additionally, investigators found “less than adequate evidence” in aircraft manuals regarding a clear and timely sequence of required actions to perform such a landing.
Regulatory Responses and Operational Changes
In response to the incident, Ryanair updated its operating policies. The airline now mandates that flight crews contact their duty pilot for a detailed operational briefing covering procedures, restrictions, and threats associated with operating an aircraft with an inoperative anti-skid system. Meanwhile, the ANSV issued three explicit safety recommendations to Boeing concerning the operation of aircraft with the anti-skid system disabled.
Frequently Asked Questions
Were any passengers injured during the Milan Bergamo landing incident?
No, all 162 passengers and six crew members on board were completely unharmed, though they had to disembark from the aircraft while it remained on the runway.
Why was the Boeing 737-8200 MAX flying with its anti-skid system disabled?
The system was deactivated after warning lights illuminated during earlier flights out of Barcelona, and an on-duty technician left it disabled because a replacement spare component was unavailable.
What caused the tyres to burst upon touchdown?
According to the ANSV report, pressure was inadvertently applied to the aircraft brakes prior to the deployment of the speed brakes, causing the wheels to lock up.
What safety changes has Ryanair implemented since the incident?
Ryanair reduced its maximum fault rectification repair window from 10 days to a single flight and made it mandatory for flight crews to receive a duty pilot briefing before operating without an anti-skid system.
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