Serious incident to the Airbus A320 registered HK5407 operated by Avianca on 03/05/2025 en route (Colombia)

Preliminary data based on the notification from the authorities of Colombia:

Acording to operator’s initial statement, the aircraft was programmed to perform flight AVA9206 between Rionegro International Airport (SKRG) to Santa Marta International Airport (SKSM) with 173 passengers and 6 Crew. The crew analyzed the en route conditions at both the destination and alternative airports were favorable for an approach to runway 01 of Santa Marta. Before beginning the descent toward their destination, the weather radar began to show large formations of bad weather along the approach to Santa Marta, so the crew made a detour to the left of approximately 100 NM to avoid the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain range. Arriving at Santa Marta, the crew was informed that the runway had changed to 19. When changing the procedure, the crew encountered unfavorable weather conditions and proceeded to Barranquilla as an alternative Airport, this was because the crew was informed by ATS services that there were favorable weather conditions at Barranquilla Airport. When the crew was making the approach to Barranquilla Airport, being 100 feet on final, they did not see the runway due to weather conditions, so they decided to proceed to Cartagena airport as a second alternative Airport. The crew was informed by the Barranquilla Approach controller that it was turn number four on the approach, so the Crew declared PAN PAN PAN due to minimum fuel, in this way they were authorized to make a direct approach to Cartagena, 10 NM before the initial point the Crew declared May Day due to fuel, the aircraft landed without further incident at Cartagena airport with 860kg of fuel.