Plane narrowly avoids crash after aborting takeoff on taxiway at Brussels airport

A Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) aircraft narrowly avoided a serious accident at Brussels Airport after beginning its takeoff run on a taxiway rather than the designated runway, aviation authorities said.

The Airbus A320neo, operating a flight from Brussels to Copenhagen, accelerated to around 107 knots (approximately 200 km/h) before the pilot initiated an emergency braking procedure, according to flight-tracking service Flightradar24. The aircraft came to a stop just short of an area containing fuel tanks, Bild writes. 

There were 135 passengers on board at the time of the incident. Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws reported that no injuries occurred, though airport firefighters were dispatched as a precaution. Passengers were evacuated from the aircraft and offered psychological support. The plane was subsequently grounded, and travelers were rebooked onto other flights departing from Brussels.

Aviation expert Luc de Wild told Het Laatste Nieuws that the situation could have had severe consequences if the aircraft had continued accelerating, noting that fuel storage facilities were located close to the end of the runway area.

An investigation into the incident is underway. Preliminary findings indicate that pilot error may have been a contributing factor.

By Sabina Mammadli