The Boeing 747 that overshot the runway in
Tahiti and ended up in the sea.
Flight AF072 was a regular Air France flight from Paris to
Papeete, Tahiti.
On that Sunday, September 12, 1993, with 272 people on
board, 256 passengers and 16 crew members, the plane flew
the entire route without any major problems. The aircraft was
almost completing its 3rd year of operation with the
company.
The weather was perfect and the crew began the descent for
landing in the paradisiacal French Polynesia and aligned the
jet with the VOR-DME procedure for runway 22 at Tahiti Faa'a
Airport. Everything went smoothly until landing.
At 9:05 p.m. (local time), the 747 touched down at a speed of
168 knots, was unable to stop and overshot the runway. The
Air France Boeing 747 ended up in a shallow coral reef in the
lagoon next to the airport.
