Ryanair 737 Max Incident: Premature Braking Causes Tyre Burst and Runway Damage
Italian investigators have concluded that a Ryanair Boeing 737 Max 8-200 experienced a significant incident due to premature braking while landing with an inoperative anti-skid system. The aircraft, arriving from Barcelona to Bergamo on October 1, 2024, had all four of its main landing-gear tyres burst upon touchdown, causing substantial damage to both the aircraft and the runway. The Italian investigation authority ANSV reported that the anti-skid system's inboard and outboard channels were deactivated in Spain after a technical fault was detected. This decision was deemed 'suboptimal' as only the inboard channel needed deactivation. Despite checks in Malaga and Barcelona, the issue persisted. During the approach to Bergamo, the crew discussed the braking procedure, but human factors and procedural memory from previous landings with an active anti-skid system influenced the incorrect sequence of actions, leading to the incident.