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The Terrifying Tale of Aona Flight 1388
Imagine finding yourself trapped on the world’s wildest roller coaster ride, with your heart racing and your body reacting to the extreme twists and turns—as terrifying as that sounds, it’s a reality that the crew and passengers of Aona Flight 1388 faced when their aircraft malfunctioned shortly after takeoff. This intense story details the harrowing experience, the circumstances leading to it, and how it all came to an end.
Prelude to Catastrophe
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The ordeal began around a month before the fateful flight, as the operator Aona sent their Embraer 190/100 LR to a maintenance base in Portugal for an extensive upkeep. They contracted a local maintenance firm, Ogma, to carry out the necessary checks. The maintenance included both a standard C2 check and the integration of a few service bulletins, particularly focusing on upgrading the aerons and switching the old stainless steel cables to new carbon steel cables.
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The work, initially expected to take about two weeks, extended due to confusion surrounding the installation instructions. Engineers faced hurdles during the testing phase, with ominous messages appearing about flight controls before the aircraft was powered up. Still, despite extensive troubleshooting efforts, nothing truly prepared anyone for what was to come.
On the Flight Deck
The day of departure arrived on October 11, 2018. The scheduled flight was meant to travel from Portugal to Minsk, Belarus, with a refueling stop before moving on to Kazakhstan. A standard flight crew was assigned to the aircraft despite the need for specially trained pilots to perform acceptance flights after maintenance—an oversight that would soon complicate matters.
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The crew did encounter issues pre-flight, including problems with avionics ventilation and low hydraulic levels, which delayed their takeoff. Eventually resolved, they engaged the aircraft and began taxiing. However, as checks were conducted, a key indicator was overlooked: the ailerons' movements displayed incorrect responses. What should have been an upward movement on one wing registered as downward.
The Heart-Stopping Takeoff
At 13:30, Aona Flight 1388 took off, but this was no ordinary ascent. Within seconds of attempting to engage the autopilot, the pilots recognized a catastrophic loss of control. The airplane’s response systems operated contrary to expected commands, presenting a nightmare scenario where any maneuver made the aircraft uncontrollable.
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As they scrambled to regain command, the crew issued urgent distress calls to air traffic control, confirming their dire situation. Within minutes, the aircraft endured mind-boggling altitude fluctuations, extreme G forces, and abrupt flips, all while the instruments offered little insight into the underlying issues.
Fighting for Control
For over an hour, the passengers and crew were subjected to harrowing conditions, with the pilots continuously attempting to troubleshoot the aircraft's erratic behavior and searching for a way to stabilize their flight. A unique dynamic evolved among the crew, as the third pilot present (on the jump seat) provided invaluable support and insight, enhancing communication and coordination in this crucial moment.
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Slowly, the team began to manipulate control settings, switching the system to a direct law configuration which allowed the ailerons to function independently from the flight spoilers. This newfound control would allow the pilots to manage the aircraft slightly better but still posed significant risk.
Further Complications
As the pilots navigated towards safer weather, two F-16 fighters were deployed from the Portuguese Air Force to aid in the situation. However, the encounter with these jets complicated matters further, as the aircraft's alert systems became overwhelmed with unwanted warnings—adding another layer of stress to an already precarious situation.
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With the aircraft finally stabilized, the crew shifted their focus from ditching procedures to finding an alternate landing site. They directed efforts towards a nearby military base, Béa, due to its more favorable conditions.
The Triumphant Yet Challenging Landing
Over two hours after their initial takeoff, the crew approached Béa for landing. Multiple attempts ensued—each culminating in go-arounds due to instabilities during descent until finally, they targeted a narrower runway. Despite these challenges, Captain and crew safely landed on the runway, with relief filling the cockpit as they came to a stop.
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Incredibly, there were no serious injuries among passengers or crew, though many experienced severe exhaustion and distress from the flight. However, upon inspection, the aircraft showed signs of immense damage, ultimately deemed a total loss.
Investigating the Catastrophe
The aftermath of Flight 1388 saw a detailed investigation unfold. Deficiencies in the maintenance protocols were uncovered, highlighting severe lapses in organizational safety and inadequate reporting cultures. Additionally, the maintenance manuals required significant revisions to prevent similar issues in the future.
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While the pilots were partly culpable for not catching the flight control anomalies before takeoff, their actions during the crisis were commendable. Their teamwork, skill, and unwavering determination allowed them to navigate through one of aviation's most harrowing emergencies successfully.
Conclusion: A Lesson Learned
The tale of Aona Flight 1388 serves as a vital reminder of the paramount importance of rigorous maintenance protocols, the need for informed acceptance flights, and the power of effective teamwork in crises. With the risks highlighted, fleets worldwide can learn from this incident—a testament to dedication, resilience, and the human spirit in the face of adversity.