On Jan 15th 2026, a charter flight in Papua New Guinea ended with a runway excursion after landing at a remote island airstrip. A Heavilift Avions de Transport Regional ATR-42-500, registered P2-KSA, was operating a charter service from Port Moresby to Simberi with 11 passengers and 3 crew members on board.
The aircraft touched down on Simberi’s runway 28 at approximately 16:30 local time (06:30 UTC). Shortly after landing, it veered to the right of the runway and left the paved surface, ultimately impacting an earthwall alongside the airstrip. The excursion brought the aircraft to an abrupt stop.
Despite the severity of the impact, there were no injuries reported among passengers or crew. The aircraft, however, sustained substantial damage. The airline later stated that the aircraft swerved off the runway during landing in wet and slippery conditions, a factor believed to have contributed to the loss of directional control.
No official weather data have been released for Simberi at the time of the incident. The event highlights the challenges of operating into short and remote runways, particularly when surface conditions deteriorate, where even routine landings can quickly turn into damaging ground incidents.
