Upon concluding the investigation into the serious aviation incident involving an airBaltic Airbus A220 aircraft, which veered off the runway upon landing at Riga Airport on March 8, 2023, the Transport Accident and Incident Investigation Bureau of Latvia developed safety recommendations for the aircraft manufacturer, Airbus. Recognizing the high quality of the investigation and recommendations, Airbus took immediate action. In 2024, the manufacturer began testing improvements to the aircraft's automatic braking system software and this year initiated the certification process for these modifications.
Vilis Ķipurs, Head of the Aviation Accident and Incident Investigation Division, explained: "The Airbus A220 is a modern, narrow-body aircraft designed for regional flights, renowned for efficiency and technological innovation. However, like any other aircraft, the Airbus A220 can encounter technical or operational challenges. During this investigation, we identified deficiencies in the automatic braking control system of this aircraft model. We are pleased that Airbus has accepted and acted upon the safety recommendations developed by the Transport Accident and Incident Investigation Bureau. This significantly enhances aviation safety in Latvia and internationally."
Ķipurs continued: "Additionally, it is positive to note that the Bureau has been invited to present the Airbus A220 incident investigation as a good example of cooperation between aviation safety investigation authorities and aircraft operators at a workshop organized by the European Network of Civil Aviation Safety Investigation Authorities (ENCASIA) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in Madrid, Spain."
The final investigation report on the March 8, 2023 incident represents a significant contribution to the operation of this relatively new aircraft model. The report’s analysis is based on independent examinations of the aircraft's technical documentation, recorded technical parameters, weather conditions, and crew actions during landing, which identified specific design shortcomings affecting the flight safety of Latvia's national airline, airBaltic.
This investigation report has also gained international recognition since Airbus A220 aircraft are widely used in airline fleets across Europe, North America, and Asia. The investigation findings were submitted to the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the aircraft manufacturer Airbus Canada, and are accessible to civil aviation authorities in several countries. Consequently, the Bureau's investigation has facilitated timely preventive actions within the global Airbus A220 fleet.
The Transport Accident and Incident Investigation Bureau is a state administrative institution under the supervision of the Minister of Transport, tasked with investigating civil aviation accidents and incidents, railway accidents, and maritime accidents, analyzing their causes, and developing safety recommendations in line with Latvian and international regulatory requirements.