Airbus A300B4, registered EI- EAC, flight QY 6321, Bratislava Airport (Slovakia) 16 November 2012

INFORMATION ON 20 NOVEMBER 2012

The Airbus A300B4, registered EI-EAC, operated by Air Contractors (Ireland), on behalf of DHL company, made a runway excursion during landing at Bratislava M.R. Stefanika international airport at around 05h30, local time, on Friday 16 November, 2012.

The cargo airplane, which was flying the Leipzig (Germany) - Bratislava (Slovakia) route, had 3 crew members on board. No injuries were reported.

The Slovak safety investigation authority (Aviation and Maritime Investigation Authority of the Slovak Republic) delegated the safety investigation to the BEA in accordance with the provisions of Annex 13 and with the European regulation.

Two BEA investigators assisted by two experts from Airbus are currently at the scene.

INFORMATION ON 20 DECEMBER 2012

Circumstances of the accident:

On Friday 16 November 2012, the crew took off from Leipzig (Germany) at 03 h 38 UTC bound for Bratislava (Slovakia). The flight, of around 45 minutes, took place without incident and the crew was cleared for an ILS approach to runway 22. The Captain was pilot flying.

During the descent, the controller informed the crew that the wind was from 120° at 7 kt. The ILS 22 approach was stable.

At 04 h 25 UTC, the main landing gear touched down about 700 metres from the threshold of runway 22. After about 360 metres of the landing run, the crew felt some violent vibrations, which increased as the speed decreased. The aeroplane veered off to the left. The crew applied heavy braking and tried in vain to use the nosewheel steering.

At less than 45 kt, the aeroplane exited the runway to the left about 800 metres after nosewheel touchdown. The nose gear struck a recessed concrete inspection pit and collapsed. The aeroplane slid for a few dozen metres before coming to a stop. The crew evacuated the aeroplane.

The BEA is the French Civil Aviation Safety Investigation Authority. Its investigations are conducted with the sole objective of improving aviation safety and are not intended to apportion blame or liability. BEA investigations are independent, separate and conducted without prejudice to any judicial or administrative action that may be taken to determine blame or liability.