A KLM Boeing 787-9 operating the service from Santiago, Chile was found to have suffered some damage, as revealed by a postflight inspection in Buenos Aires, Argentina on 21 July 2024.
KLM KL702 Santiago-Buenos Aires
KLM flight KL702 had operated from Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport (SCL) on 21 July.
The flight had been conducted normally, and the aircraft made an uneventful landing at the destination Buenos Aires Ezeiza International Airport (EZE).
A routine postflight inspection of the aircraft revealed some damage to the aircraft which was described as a small puncture hole. No further clarifying information has been provided as to the size, severity or location of the damage.
Notably, the aircraft remained grounded in Buenos Aires for some time before being repositioned to Amsterdam.
The subsequent onwards scheduled service to Amsterdam was cancelled as a result of the damage discovered to the aircraft.
JST Incident Investigation
The Transportations Safety Board, Junta de Seguridad en el Transporte (JST), initial report confirmed the following:
“At the end of a scheduled commercial passenger flight, during the external visual inspection of the aircraft on the apron, the maintenance staff observed slight damage (small puncture).”
“Accordingly, they decided to cancel the next scheduled flight after consulting with the company’s headquarters. No other damage was observed.”
The JST then confirmed that they would investigate the incident:
“The JST is investigating the incident involving a Boeing 787-9 aircraft, registration PH-BHA, which occurred at Ministro Pistarini International Airport, Buenos Aires, at approximately 15:37 UTC. The investigation is being led by the Headquarters.”
Aircraft Details
The aircraft conducting the KL702 service from Santiago (SCL) was a Boeing 787-9, registered PH-BHA.
The KLM 787-9 is an 8.8-year-old widebody aircraft belonging to the national carrier KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.
It has been in operational service with the airline since its initial delivery from the factory in December 2015.
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