Aerosucre Boeing 727 Landing Gear Collapse at Barranquilla Airport

Aerosucre Boeing 727 Freighter Suffers Landing Gear Collapse in Colombia

On Friday, December 12, 2025, an Aerosucre Boeing 727-200 freighter sustained significant damage following a landing gear collapse at Ernesto Cortissoz International Airport (BAQ) in Barranquilla, Colombia. According to reporting by AirLive.net, the aircraft was performing an emergency landing after the crew detected a mechanical failure shortly after departure.

The incident involved a 45-year-old airframe, registered as HK-5216. While the collapse resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft and airport infrastructure, authorities confirmed that there were no injuries among the crew members. This event marks the second serious safety incident involving this specific aircraft in just over a year.

Incident Timeline and Emergency Procedures

The flight, identified as KRE140 (and referenced in some data as A4-141), departed Barranquilla earlier in the day. Shortly after takeoff, the flight crew reported a malfunction involving the left-hand main landing gear. In response to the mechanical issue, the crew entered a holding pattern near the airport.

Data indicates the aircraft circled for approximately 70 minutes. This standard procedure allows the aircraft to burn off excess fuel, reducing the landing weight to minimize stress on the airframe during the emergency return.

Touchdown and Gear Failure

Upon returning to Ernesto Cortissoz International Airport, the aircraft attempted a landing on Runway 05. Reports state that during the rollout phase, the left main landing gear collapsed. The structural failure caused the aircraft’s left wing to drop, scraping along the runway surface.

The friction from the wing dragging on the tarmac caused damage to the fuselage and the wing structure. Additionally, the incident damaged runway infrastructure, including lighting systems. Emergency services, including aeronautical fire rescue teams, responded immediately to the scene to secure the aircraft.

Aircraft History and Safety Context

The aircraft involved, a Boeing 727-227 Advanced freighter, is a veteran of the skies with over four decades of service. Aerosucre, a Bogotá-based cargo airline, is one of the few remaining operators of this vintage trijet type, utilizing them to serve remote regions of Colombia.

Repeat Incidents for HK-5216

This is not the first time this specific airframe has made headlines for safety issues recently. As noted in aviation safety records, HK-5216 was involved in a collision with ground equipment only 13 months prior.

On November 10, 2024, the same aircraft struck an Instrument Landing System (ILS) antenna and a pole during takeoff from El Dorado International Airport in Bogotá. Although it sustained damage to the landing gear and left wing during that event, it was repaired and returned to service, only to suffer this latest collapse in Barranquilla.

Aerosucre’s Safety Record

Aerosucre has faced scrutiny regarding its safety culture and the maintenance of its aging fleet. The airline operates in some of the most challenging flying environments in South America. The carrier is perhaps most infamously associated with a tragic accident in December 2016, when a different Boeing 727 (HK-4544) crashed after failing to gain altitude during a takeoff from Puerto Carreño, resulting in five fatalities.

AirPro News Analysis

The recurrence of serious incidents involving the same airframe within a short window raises critical questions regarding the oversight of aging cargo fleets in the region. While the Boeing 727 is a robust aircraft historically suited for freight, the operational tempo required by carriers like Aerosucre places immense stress on airframes that are approaching half a century of service. The decision on whether to repair or write off HK-5216 will likely depend on the severity of the spar damage incurred during the runway scrape, but the pattern of mechanical failures suggests a need for rigorous regulatory review.

Current Status and Investigation

Following the accident, the Colombian Civil Aviation Authority (Aerocivil) ordered the temporary closure of Ernesto Cortissoz International Airport to facilitate the removal of the disabled freighter and to assess the damage to the runway lights. Aerocivil has launched an official inquiry to determine the precise technical cause of the landing gear collapse.

Sources: AirLive