December 19, 2024 – A Norwegian Air Boeing 737-800, operating as flight DY430, narrowly avoided a potential disaster after overshooting the runway during its landing at Molde Airport (MOL) in Norway. The aircraft came to a stop just 50 feet (15 meters) from the Fannefjord, with 171 people on board, including 165 passengers and six crew members. Thankfully, there were no fatalities or serious injuries, and all occupants were safely evacuated.

Flight and Weather Conditions

Flight DY430 departed from Oslo Gardermoen Airport (OSL) at 6:02 p.m. CET, 47 minutes behind schedule. After climbing to a cruising altitude of 32,000 feet, the Boeing 737-800 followed a direct route toward Molde. As the aircraft began its descent, it encountered challenging weather conditions, including light rain, snow showers, and variable winds at 12 knots. The weather led to reduced visibility, with a broken cloud ceiling at 2,500 feet and scattered clouds as low as 1,200 feet.

Landing and Runway Excursion

The aircraft touched down on Runway 25 at approximately 7:03 p.m., but due to slippery runway conditions, the plane struggled to stop within the available distance. As a result, it overshot the runway’s displaced threshold and continued past the end of the runway, coming to a halt about 500 feet beyond the runway's end, just feet from the water's edge.

Evacuation and Emergency Response

Following the incident, passengers quickly evacuated the plane via emergency slides. Despite some passengers attempting to retrieve luggage, the evacuation was conducted efficiently, and no injuries were reported. Emergency services at the airport responded promptly, ensuring the safety of all individuals involved.

Investigation and Aircraft Details

Preliminary reports from Norway's Accident Investigation Board (AIBN) suggest that the aircraft entered a snow squall at a low altitude of 50 to 100 feet, which contributed to the reduced braking effectiveness. The aircraft, a 11.2-year-old Boeing 737-800, was previously operated by Garuda Indonesia before being registered with Norwegian Air in July 2022. The plane remains grounded at Molde Airport, pending further inspection.

This incident highlights the challenges of operating in adverse weather conditions, particularly at airports with runways near bodies of water. Authorities are continuing their investigation into the cause of the runway excursion, while the airline and airport teams are reviewing safety protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future.