An American Airlines 737-800 ran off the runway at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) on Thursday in Charlotte before safely taxiing to the gate. What could have caused this incident to happen?
American Airlines 737-800 Veers Off Runway At CLT
The incident occurred at 2:45PM local time on Thursday, May 19. American Airlines Flight 775, bound for Miami (MIA), was cleared for takeoff on runway 18L, but instead of taking off it ran off the runway.
Skid marks on the runway and trench marks on the grass were visible after the incident, but all 174 passengers and six crew members onboard were safe.
After the failed takeoff, the plane taxied back to the gate (using its own power) and passengers safely disembarked. The plane taken out of service and runway 18L was temporary closed, as a precautionary measure. A new plane was located to transport the passengers to Miami, arriving at 7:48PM, nearly three hours behind schedule.
American Airlines noted the issue was mechanical in nature, but offered no further statement on the incident, with Charlotte Airport simply confirming the facts above.
I’ve seen all sorts of media reports about this, but none speculating about what happened. Even the dependable Aviation Herald has not yet published anything on the incident.
What do you suppose happened? What may have happened to cause the 737-800 to veer off the runway?
I’d welcome your thoughts in the comments section below.
image: Richard Silagi
Possibly asymmetric power application—of the flight management system.
3 hours late isn’t bad at all considering. Guess hub to hub helps with the incentives for recovery.
And the government wants to let pilots fly even older now.
Geriatrics should not fly airplanes
What does pilot age have anything to do here? In fact I would prefer to have a very experienced pilot in control if there is an issue.
Good thing the mechanical was on the ground and not in the air.. Worse case scenario it could have been “ Another 737-800 crash.. this time in the United States”… headline.
Sounds like an EPR anomaly at v1, close to v2. This could be a result of a bird ingestion .Braking efforts and thrust reversal was insufficient to stop prior to the normal end of the runway.
No epr gauge on an AA 737