Iberia Airbus A350 Collides with Light Pole in Pisco, Peru

An Iberia flight from Madrid to Lima, Peru, encountered multiple challenges recently, culminating in a collision with a light pole at an alternate airport. The Airbus A350 had to divert from its original destination to Pisco, where the incident occurred. Fortunately, there were no injuries, and Iberia ensured the passengers were well-assisted.

On June 2, an Iberia Airbus A350 on a nonstop flight from Madrid to Lima was diverted to Pisco Airport in southern Peru due to a breakdown of runway lights at Jorge Chávez International Airport in Lima, affecting numerous flights. While refueling in Pisco, the aircraft's wingtip struck a pole during taxiing, causing damage to the wing. The incident occurred early in the morning, around 6 or 7 a.m.

Iberia issued a statement explaining the diversion and subsequent collision. They noted that the incident did not harm any passengers, airport staff, or crew members as passengers had already disembarked. The airline emphasized that the pilot was following the instructions provided by the ground handling operators at Pisco.

The affected aircraft, an Airbus A350-900 registered EC-OCR, was delivered to Iberia in November 2023 and is less than a year old. It features 352 seats across three classes: 28 in premium economy, 31 in business class, and 293 in economy. This flight, IB 6659, is part of Iberia's daily scheduled service between Madrid and Lima, typically departing at 13:30 and arriving at 18:20.

The diversion to Pisco was one of many resulting from the runway light failure at Lima's Jorge Chávez International Airport, which began on the night of June 2. Several flights were redirected to alternate airports, including those in nearby countries like Chile, Colombia, and Ecuador.

Incidents of aircraft colliding with objects at airports, while rare, are not unheard of. Similar events have occurred in the past, including a Southwest Boeing 737 hitting a light pole during taxiing at Jacksonville International Airport in July last year. In 2022, a Qatar Airways Boeing 777 freighter collided with a light pole at Chicago O'Hare Airport, causing significant wing damage. Other notable incidents include a SpiceJet Boeing 737 damaging its wing in Delhi in 2022 and an American Airlines 737 hitting a pole at Dallas Fort Worth Airport in 2021.

These incidents highlight the challenges and risks associated with ground operations at airports. Despite the disruption, Iberia's prompt response and commitment to passenger safety and service are commendable.