A Boeing 737 operated by TransAir skidded off the runway at Blaise Diagne airport in Dakar, Senegal, injuring at least 11 people. The incident occurred during takeoff as the plane was en route to Bamako, Mali. Crew members were able to assist with the evacuation of the aircraft, deploying side exit ramps as the plane started to burn.
The plane, which was carrying 79 passengers, two pilots, and four cabin crew members, had been leased by TransAir this year after being delivered to Romanian company TAROM 30 years ago. The airport has launched an investigation to determine the cause of the accident.
Boeing, the manufacturer of the aircraft, stated that they would provide support to their customers and referred further questions to TransAir. This incident adds to a series of recent incidents involving Boeing aircraft, including a door plug blowing out mid-flight on an Alaska Airlines flight in January.
In a separate incident, a FedEx jet was forced to land without deploying its front landing gear, but the pilots were able to safely keep the plane on the runway. FedEx is cooperating with the investigation into the incident.
Family members of victims from past Boeing-related incidents have been demanding accountability from the company, with some calling for the prosecution of executives. Nadia Milleron, who lost her daughter in a 2019 Boeing crash, stated that executives need to be personally accountable for their decisions in order to drive behavior change within the company.
Overall, this incident highlights the ongoing scrutiny facing Boeing and the aviation industry as a whole, with safety and accountability being key concerns for passengers and regulators alike. Investigations into the cause of the Senegal airport accident are ongoing.