Ariana Afghan Airlines 737-400 Suffers Substantial Damage During Runway Overrun in Khost

An Ariana Afghan Airlines 737-400 bound for Dubai suffered substantial damage after overrunning the runway and colliding with a fence at Khost on 23 August.

An Ariana Afghan Airlines Boeing 737-400 bound for the Dubai overran the runway during its takeoff from Khost, Afghanistan on 23 August 2024. The aircraft suffered substantial damage during the takeoff incident and subsequently diverted to Kabul, Afghanistan.

Ariana Afghan Airlines flight FG403, a Boeing 737-400, was conducting a takeoff from RWY24 Khost Airport (KHT). During the takeoff roll, the aircraft overran the overshoot end of the runway. During the runway excursion the aircraft collided with an airport fence structure before it subsequently became airborne.

Ariana Afghan Airlines FG403 Khost

Flight track of Ariana Afghan Airlines FG403 from Khost showing diversion to Kabul.

Following the ground collision, flight crew continued the climb before making a decision to divert to Kabul International Airport (KBL).

The aircraft managed to land at Kabul without further incident. Video footage shows the aircraft overrunning the active runway during the takeoff from Khost.

Video Credit: افغانستان اینترنشنال @AFIntlBrk via X.

Subsequent photographs of the airframe reveal the extent of the damage. According to the online source Aviation Herald, the aircraft to both of its vertical stabiliser mounts. Flight crew still managed to maintain directional control of the aircraft despite the significant damage to the aft fuselage assembly.

Damage was reported to the aircraft’s aft fuselage, tail assembly and horizontal stabilisers.

Flight data shows that following the takeoff incident, the aircraft continued on diversion to Kabul International Airport. The aircraft appears to have climbed to flight level FL180 (18,000 feet) before making its descent to the diversion airport.

The aircraft conducting the FG403 service to Dubai international airport (DXB) was a Boeing 737-400, registered YA-PID. This is a 31.4 year old narrowbody aircraft belonging to the carrier Ariana Afghan Airlines.

It has been in operational service with the airline since August 2015. Prior to its service with the carrier it passed through Turkish Airlines and its subsidiary AndalouJet from its initial delivery in May 1993 to January 2010. From January 2010 it was then operated by the Afghan carrier Pamir Airways, before passing to Ariana Afghan Airlines.