On Mar 25th 2026, an Ariana Afghan Airlines Boeing 737-400, registration YA-PIC, operating flight FG-252 from Herat to Kabul, veered off the runway during landing, leading to a dramatic but injury-free evacuation.
The aircraft had just touched down on runway 29 in Kabul when it began to deviate to the right. Unable to regain the runway centerline, the jet exited the paved surface, crossed a taxiway, and eventually came to a stop on soft ground.
Crew members initiated an evacuation via emergency slides as a precaution. All occupants exited the aircraft safely, and no injuries were reported despite the severity of the runway excursion.
The aircraft, however, sustained damage—particularly to its left wing—during the off-runway excursion. At the time, no official weather data was available to determine whether environmental factors may have contributed to the event.
Further details emerged on Mar 31st 2026, indicating that the right main landing gear had experienced significant vibrations during the landing roll and ultimately collapsed. This mechanical failure likely played a key role in the aircraft’s inability to maintain directional control after touchdown.
The incident highlights the challenges pilots face during landing, where even minor anomalies can quickly escalate, and underscores the importance of aircraft structural integrity during high-load phases of flight.
