A project that took years to enter service in 2015, the HondaJet had already accumulated more than 250 aircraft delivered by the Japanese manufacturer at the beginning of this year, without a single serious accident.
But the impeccable safety record suffered a severe blow on November 5 when the business jet, registration N57HP, attempted to take off from Mesa-Falcon Airport in Arizona, and ended up stopping on a road after the threshold of the runway.
Four occupants of the HondaJet and a driver of a vehicle that was hit died, while the pilot was seriously injured.
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Videos showed the destroyed aircraft after coming to rest in bushes on the opposite side of a road.
ADS-B data suggests that the pilot attempted to abort the takeoff after reaching 133 knots but was unable to stop the aircraft in time.
Efficient performance and a unique solution
The HondaJet is a light business jet that has been very successful on the market since Honda managed to complete its complex development almost two decades ago.
Created by designer Michimasa Fujino, the aircraft was designed in 1997 with the idea of placing its two engines over the wings on inverted pylons.
The configuration was promising for reducing drag and freeing up space in the jet’s fuselage. According to Honda, its aircraft is up to 20% more efficient than competitors of similar size.
To be closer to its main customers, Honda built a plant at Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Deliveries of the HondaJet began in 2015 and peaked in 2017 when 43 aircraft were shipped to customers.
In 2022 and 2023, the pace slowed as the company plans its second model, the Echelon, for up to 11 passengers and which will enter service in 2028.
