AIRCRAFT OVERSHOOTS RUNWAY IN BAD WEATHER

A Wizz Air aircraft en route from Treviso overshot the runway at Kiev’s Boryspil International Airport (UKBB/KBP) at approximately 2330 local time on 29 December 2009. Snow and ice on the runway is believed to have caused the accident, although airport officials have denied any link to the runway’s condition. No one on board the aircraft was injured. Departures and landings were suspended at the airport while the runway was cleared. The airport resumed activity at approximately 1100 local time on 30 December. This follows a similar incident the previous day, when Aerosvit flight VV-418 from Tbilisi also overshot the runway. No injuries were reported in that incident either, but authorities were forced to close the runway. Ukraine has been dealing with severe weather since 28 December. Heavy snowfall has impacted roadways and other forms of transportation in major cities, including Kiev. Reports on 30 December indicate that 674 population centers spread over six regions are without power; that number is down from approximately 1,075 on 29 December.