[Moose4]

From what I read somewhere (don’t have the source handy) the 737 was taking off on a northbound runway at Denver, but the winds at the time were from the west at about 20-25 knots and gusting higher. Why they hadn’t switched to using a westbound runway, who knows, the airport might have been in the process of switching. But if that article’s right, then yeah, a rejected takeoff in a heavy crosswind could’ve caused the pilots to lose control and the plane to “weathervane” in the wind and turn left off the runway. Once it hit the dirt, the wild ride would start.

Now the questions are—why was the takeoff rejected, and why would they be taking off in conditions that *might* exceed the maximum allowed crosswind component for a 737?

}:-)4

[spotbust1]

Not being a pilot myself, I have not first hand experience, but this part of the Fox News article seemed interesting to me.

The Denver runway was free of ice or snow Saturday, according to eyewitnesses and people familiar with the investigation, but rubber skid marks suggest the plane began veering to the left early in its roll toward takeoff.

I wonder if something happened with the breaks on one side during the takeoff, like they engaged or "locked up" when they were trying to takeoff. I don't even know if that is possible. Just sounds weird like they were still trying to roll when the skid marks started. What's your take?

[jwparkerjr]

A passenger, early-on, was reporting the right(?) engine was on fire as they left the runway. That, plus a crosswind, would certainly tend to affect the handling of an aircraft going down the runway at 100 mph or so!