On Jan 15th 2026, a Hevilift Avions de Transport Régional ATR-42-500 was substantially damaged after veering off the runway during landing at Simberi Airport in Papua New Guinea, ending its rollout against an earthwall in a dramatic runway excursion.
The aircraft, registered P2-KSA, was operating a charter flight from Port Moresby to Simberi with 11 passengers and 3 crew on board. At about 16:30 local time, the turboprop touched down on runway 28 but soon after landing drifted to the right, departed the paved surface and struck an earth embankment bordering the runway. Despite the severity of the impact, all occupants escaped without injury.
Hevilift confirmed that the aircraft swerved off the runway during the landing roll in wet and slippery conditions, sustaining damage as a result. No official weather observations were available for Simberi at the time of the incident, a common challenge at remote airfields in the region.
Papua New Guinea’s Accident Investigation Commission (AIC) reported that the event occurred during the landing roll and resulted in significant damage to the aircraft. Investigators were dispatched to Simberi shortly after the incident, and a formal investigation was opened.
In an update issued on Jan 23rd 2026, the AIC stated that the aircraft had suffered a loss of directional control after landing, adding an important detail to the developing picture of what led to the runway excursion. The investigation is ongoing and is expected to examine runway conditions, aircraft performance, and operational factors surrounding the landing.
