An Air Europa Avions de Transport Regional ATR-72 600 (-212A) , registration EC-LYJ performing flight UX-4014 from Valencia, SP to Palma Mallorca, SP (Spain), landed on Mallorca’s runway 24L at about 17:35L (16:35Z) when the aircraft temporarily veered off the runway colliding with a runway edge light before returning onto the runway. The aircraft rolled out without further incident. There were no injuries, the aircraft sustained damage to its right-hand main gear fairing.
The airport reported the aircraft made a minor temporary runway excursion during landing. The damage to the runway lights was immediately repaired.
The airline reported strong gusting winds were affecting Palma Mallorca for days already, they were the cause for the temporary runway excursion.
The ATR 72 has a maximum demonstrated crosswind on a dry runway of 35 knots. With METAR information showing a 34kt near 90-degree crosswind, so the pilots were landing in the airframes limitations, but very close to the point where the aircraft shouldn’t land. The gusts also would have made it hard for the pilots to stay on track as it is changing all the time.
EC-LYJ is 23 years old and has had many previous operators including Air Nostrum, Cimber Sterling Airlines and Swiftair who Air Europa currently lease the aircraft from. It is configured in a 68 seat economy cabin.
Metars:
LEPA 281830Z 32022G33KT 9999 FEW020 14/06 Q1008 NOSIG=
LEPA 281800Z 33020KT 9999 FEW020 14/06 Q1008 NOSIG=
LEPA 281730Z 32023G35KT 290V350 9999 FEW020 14/05 Q1008 NOSIG=
LEPA 281700Z 32024G34KT 9999 FEW020 14/06 Q1007 NOSIG=
LEPA 281630Z 32024G34KT 290V350 9999 FEW020 14/06 Q1007 NOSIG=
LEPA 281600Z 32026G40KT 9999 FEW020 15/05 Q1006 NOSIG=
LEPA 281530Z 31025G36KT 9999 FEW020 15/06 Q1006 NOSIG=
LEPA 281500Z 31027G39KT 280V010 9999 FEW020 15/06 Q1006 NOSIG=
LEPA 281430Z 31021G33KT 280V340 9999 FEW020 15/05 Q1006 NOSIG=
LEPA 281400Z 30016KT 270V340 9999 FEW020 15/05 Q1006 NOSIG=
LEPA 281330Z 29016KT 240V320 9999 FEW020 15/06 Q1006 NOSIG=
LEPA 281300Z 29016G26KT 250V340 9999 FEW020 16/05 Q1006 NOSIG=
