GOL Boeing 737 MAX Strikes Runway Vehicle in a Startling Incident at Rio de Janeiro Airport, Over One Hundred Sixty Passengers Onboard

Published on February 12, 2025

A GOL Linhas Aéreas Boeing 737 MAX 8 abruptly halts takeoff after colliding with an airport vehicle at Rio Galeão Airport, with over one hundred sixty passengers onboard.

On the evening of February 11, 2025, a GOL Linhas Aéreas Boeing 737 MAX 8 (737-8) collided with an airport vehicle during takeoff procedures at Rio de Janeiro/Galeão International Airport (GIG). The aircraft, flight G31674, was preparing for its scheduled departure to Fortaleza with 167 passengers onboard when the incident took place at approximately 10:00 pm.

Incident Details

The collision occurred as the aircraft was accelerating for takeoff, with a passenger-recorded video capturing the impact moment. In response, the flight crew executed an immediate aborted takeoff procedure. Communication between air traffic control and the flight crew revealed that the captain reported striking a vehicle positioned on the active runway.

Confusion ensued in the control tower as air traffic controllers questioned whether the vehicle was on the main runway or on taxiway Charlie Charlie. The flight crew confirmed that the vehicle was indeed on the active runway during the takeoff roll.

Preliminary Findings

Preliminary investigations suggest that the airport vehicle had been granted clearance to cross the runway before the aircraft’s takeoff. However, a delay in the vehicle’s exit from the active runway played a role in the collision. Emergency response teams were swiftly deployed to the scene, although passengers, all 167 of whom were unharmed, disembarked via mobile stairs instead of using the emergency evacuation slides. Fortunately, no injuries were reported among the passengers or the crew.

Past Incidents

This incident brings to mind a similar event in November 2022, when a LATAM Peru Airbus A320neo collided with a fire truck at a South American airport. The collision led to the tragic loss of two firefighters, and the aircraft sustained severe damage, with an engine fire ensuing. Despite the severe damage, all passengers survived the ordeal.

Another notable incident occurred on August 16, 2024, when a Delta Air Lines Boeing 737-800 was damaged by a service vehicle at Boston Logan International Airport. This collision took place while the aircraft was stationary at its assigned gate, with no injuries reported to passengers or crew.

This event is part of a recent string of ground incidents involving commercial aircraft. For instance, on February 9, 2024, a Delta Boeing 737 sustained wing damage after colliding with a stairs truck while taxiing at George Town Airport in the Cayman Islands. Similarly, a JetBlue Airways ground tug struck a Cape Air aircraft at Logan Airport on November 25, 2024, injuring two Cape Air pilots.

These incidents highlight the ongoing challenges in airport ground operations and the need for heightened safety protocols to prevent such occurrences in the future.