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A Gol Linhas Aéreas Boeing 737 Max narrowly avoided disaster when it collided with an airport vehicle during takeoff from Rio de Janeiro’s Galeão International Airport on February 11, 2025. The aircraft, bound for Fortaleza, was forced to abort takeoff, and thankfully, there were no injuries reported among the 150 passengers and crew onboard, according to reports from Simply Flying.
Witnesses, including a passenger, described the moment the aircraft accelerated normally until a loud thud signaled the collision. The flight crew promptly notified air traffic control that a vehicle had encroached upon the runway. Following the incident, everyone onboard safely evacuated the aircraft using airstairs, avoiding the need for inflatable slides. Gol later arranged an alternate flight for affected passengers.
This incident follows a similar event at Chicago O'Hare Airport a month prior, where a United Airlines Boeing 737 Max struck a coyote during takeoff. Such occurrences underline the critical need for heightened safety protocols on airport grounds to prevent runway incursions.