For aviation insurance purposes, when does an occurrence take place if damage happens while the plane is moving down the runway?

In the context of aviation insurance, an “occurrence” refers to an event leading to a claim, often linked to the status of the aircraft. When considering when an occurrence takes place, it's essential to understand the stages of aircraft operation.

An aircraft is considered "in flight" from the moment it takes off until it lands. This definition includes various phases of operation, such as taxiing, takeoff, and landing. When damage happens while the plane is moving down the runway, particularly during the takeoff phase, it is still regarded as being in flight. This distinction is crucial in aviation insurance because the coverage typically extends to incidents that occur while the aircraft is in the air or actively involved in the takeoff or landing process.

The other choices refer to points at which the aircraft is either on the ground or not functioning as an aircraft, which would not typically involve the same level of coverage under aviation insurance policies. Thus, understanding that the insurance recognizes the aircraft's operational status during the phases of flight directly supports the conclusion that an occurrence takes place while the aircraft is in flight when it sustains damage during takeoff.