Serious Incident in Brussels: SAS Airbus A320neo Erroneously Initiates Takeoff Roll on Taxiway
On the night of Thursday, February 5, a Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) Airbus A320neo was involved in a serious incident at Brussels Airport after mistakenly beginning its takeoff roll on a parallel taxiway instead of the assigned runway.
The flight involved was SK2590, bound for Copenhagen. The event occurred at approximately 22:03 local time, shortly after the aircraft had received takeoff clearance for Runway 07R.
Sequence of Events: What Exactly Happened?
- After receiving the corresponding clearance, the A320neo crew lined the aircraft up on a parallel taxiway—identified by local media as E1—rather than Runway 07R.
- The aircraft began to accelerate as if it were on the runway, reaching speeds of nearly 107 knots.
- Upon identifying the error, the crew aborted the takeoff.
- The aircraft came to a stop partially off the paved surface, resting on an adjacent grass area in close proximity to the airport’s fuel storage facility.
- Following the incident, the A320neo was unable to move under its own power and had to be towed to a suitable position.
Controlled Evacuation and No Injuries Reported
Despite the potential severity of the event, no injuries were recorded. All occupants were safely deplaned without reports of panic or the need for an emergency slide evacuation.
From an airport management perspective, operations at Brussels Airport continued as normal, with no prolonged runway closures or significant impacts on other air traffic. Passengers from flight SK2590 were rebooked on alternative services to complete their journey to Copenhagen.
Lack of RAAS: A Critical Technical Factor
A notable technical detail highlighted by specialists is that the aircraft was not equipped with RAAS (Runway Awareness and Advisory System).
- This system provides auditory alerts to the crew when it detects incorrect alignments, approaches to unintended runways, or takeoff attempts from unsuitable surfaces.
- RAAS is specifically designed to prevent scenarios like the one in Brussels, particularly during night operations or low-visibility conditions.
- While the absence of this system does not constitute a regulatory violation, it remains a key point of analysis for the ongoing investigation.
Official SAS Position and Investigation
An official spokesperson for Scandinavian Airlines confirmed that the company is cooperating fully with Belgian aviation authorities, who have launched a formal investigation.
Preliminary information suggests the event stemmed from a misidentification during taxiing, leading the aircraft to align on a taxiway despite having takeoff clearance for the runway. SAS has reiterated that safety is its top priority and committed to implementing all recommendations resulting from the investigation to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
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