Xiamen 737 excursion captain twice disregarded abort call

Investigators probing a Xiamen Airlines Boeing 737-800 excursion in Manila have disclosed that the captain twice overruled the first officer's call for a go-around on final approach. The first officer also made two other go-around calls after the jet had touched down on runway 24 on 16 August last year. Its crew had previously executed one missed approach at 30ft owing to insufficient visual reference, and the pilots discussed the possibility of a second go-around, and diversion, should similar conditions prevail. In an update to the probe the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines accident inquiry board says the aircraft was stabilised in landing configuration during the second approach, and its autopilot and autothrottle were disengaged while descending through 1,000ft. While the aircraft had remained on course through the decision altitude, it started to drift to the left as it passed over the runway threshold. The first officer called "go-around", says the inquiry, but the captain responded: "No." As the 737 descended to 13ft it was rolling to the left and continuing to drift left of the centreline, and the first officer again called for a go-around at 10ft – a call which was similarly rejected by the captain. Story has more details.<br/>