At Brussels Airport on Feb. 5, SAS flight SK2590—an Airbus A320neo carrying 165 people—began its takeoff roll on an adjacent taxiway rather than the cleared Runway 07L and aborted at about 123 mph (107 knots). Emergency services assisted, passengers disembarked onto the taxiway, and maintenance inspected the brakes for heat damage; no injuries were reported. The flight was canceled and airport operations continued as normal. Scandinavian Airlines is cooperating with Belgian authorities and conducting an internal investigation.
SAS A320neo Abortive Takeoff at Brussels: Pilot Mistook Taxiway for Runway, Stopped at 123 mph
A Scandinavian Airlines aircraftKarol Serewis/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty
On the evening of Feb. 5 at Brussels Airport, a Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) Airbus A320neo operating flight SK2590 to Copenhagen began its takeoff roll on a parallel taxiway instead of the cleared Runway 07L and aborted the attempt at about 123 mph (107 knots).
Incident Details
According to flight-tracking data published by Flightradar24 and reports from Aerospace Global News, Air Live and The Aviation Herald, the jet—carrying 165 people—accelerated on the taxiway and reached roughly 123 mph before the crew called off the takeoff. The crew reportedly recognized the mistake when the taxiway narrowed; the pilot was able to stop the aircraft before a taxiway intersection and just short of nearby airport fuel tanks.
Response On Scene
Emergency services responded and passengers disembarked onto the taxiway. Maintenance personnel inspected the braking system, which likely experienced significant heat during the hard stop. Passengers were then transported back to the terminal; no injuries were reported. Airport operations continued as normal after the incident and the flight was later canceled.
Brussels Airport in BelgiumOmar Havana/Getty
Investigation and Statements
Scandinavian Airlines said it is fully cooperating with Belgian aviation authorities and is conducting a thorough internal investigation to determine the sequence of events and any safety implications. The airline reiterated that safety is its absolute priority. People and other outlets reported the event and noted that authorities are investigating.
'We taxied out as normal, lined up, and suddenly began accelerating like a regular take-off,' passenger Simon Berneblad Mandegård told the Daily Mail. 'After gaining quite a lot of speed, something clearly wasn't right. The pilot suddenly slammed on the brakes, extremely hard, and the whole cabin felt the force immediately.' He added that it was one of the most intense situations he'd experienced on a plane but that everyone was safe.
Investigators will review cockpit procedures, signage and ground markings, air traffic control clearances, and any human factors that may have contributed to the taxiway/runway confusion. Flightradar24 imagery and other operational data are cited as key pieces of evidence in public reports.
Sources: Aerospace Global News, Air Live, The Aviation Herald, Flightradar24, Daily Mail and People.
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