![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/air-asia-11-850x567.webp.webp\" "\\"Air")
<\/p>\n Published on
\nMarch 12, 2026<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Image generated with Ai<\/p>\n
On March 11, 2026, a serious aviation incident occurred at Brussels Airport (BRU), as a SAS Airbus A320neo attempted to take off from a taxiway instead of a runway. The aircraft, scheduled to fly from Brussels to Copenhagen, reached an alarming 107 knots during its misguided takeoff attempt before the pilots realized the error and swiftly aborted the operation. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, but the incident highlights significant concerns about aircraft operations and cockpit awareness during high-stress situations. With 135 passengers on board, the event underscores the importance of pilot training and airport procedures in maintaining safety, especially in critical situations where timing and precision are key.<\/p>\n
In this article, we will break down the details of the incident, explore the cause, and analyze how such close calls can be prevented in the future, ensuring a safer flying experience for passengers worldwide.<\/p>\n
The Sequence of Events at Brussels Airport<\/p>\n
SAS flight SK2590, operated by Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), was scheduled to depart from Brussels Airport at 8:30 p.m., but faced significant delays. The aircraft, an Airbus A320neo, finally began its taxi around 10 p.m., aiming to reach Runway 7R. However, an unexpected issue occurred during the taxi process, which led the aircraft off course.<\/p>\n
The pilots had been instructed to taxi toward the midfield intersection at Taxiway C6, a path that would lead them to the runway. But during the taxi, the aircraft turned earlier than expected and mistakenly aligned with a series of taxiways (E1, F2, and V1). These taxiways run parallel to the runway, but they are significantly shorter and not designed for high-speed takeoff operations.<\/p>\n
Advertisement<\/p>\n
Advertisement<\/p>\n
As the aircraft began to accelerate, it quickly reached a speed of 107 knots, dangerously close to the normal takeoff rotation speed. At this point, the pilots were unaware of the error and continued the takeoff procedure, putting the aircraft on a collision course with a potentially hazardous situation.<\/p>\n
The Critical Moment: Pilot Realization and Immediate Action<\/p>\n
The first officer in the cockpit was the first to notice the abnormal acceleration. As the aircraft surged forward, the first officer called out the usual \u201c100 knots\u201d alert, a standard procedure during takeoff rolls. However, the captain did not initially react to this call. The first officer soon realized that the aircraft was accelerating on a taxiway, not a runway, and immediately alerted the captain of the critical error.<\/p>\n
Advertisement<\/p>\n
Advertisement<\/p>\n
At this point, the pilots had only seconds to take action. The first officer gave repeated commands to halt the aircraft, leading the captain to reduce thrust and initiate maximum braking. Reverse thrust was also deployed to slow the aircraft down quickly, and within 22 seconds of the takeoff attempt, the aircraft was decelerating rapidly.<\/p>\n
Although the aircraft managed to come to a stop just before it reached the end of the taxiway, the maneuver caused the aircraft\u2019s brakes to overheat. The aircraft was quickly steered onto a different taxiway to avoid overrunning the paved surface. Ground crews were called in to assist, and the brake temperature was monitored closely.<\/p>\n
Emergency Response and Passenger Accounts<\/p>\n
Passengers on board the aircraft reported a sudden and frightening stop. The abrupt deceleration was a shock to those on board, with many unsure of the cause until later briefings by airport authorities. Emergency services responded swiftly, and passengers were evacuated using mobile stairs. They were then transported to the terminal using airport buses, while safety inspections were carried out on the aircraft.<\/p>\n
Remarkably, the aircraft had come to a stop near an area containing fuel storage tanks, heightening the seriousness of the situation. Although no injuries occurred, the close proximity to fuel tanks added an element of risk, which could have escalated the incident significantly.<\/p>\n
Investigation and Findings<\/p>\n
Brussels Airport authorities began an investigation immediately following the incident. They ruled out poor weather conditions as a contributing factor, as the skies were clear during the incident. The investigation is now focusing on operational procedures and cockpit situational awareness, especially in high-pressure situations.<\/p>\n
According to the preliminary report, the captain, who had more than 15,000 flight hours of experience, failed to notice the misalignment of the aircraft. The first officer, with nearly 1,000 hours of flight time, was responsible for monitoring the instruments and making necessary callouts during the takeoff roll.<\/p>\n
While taxiway takeoff attempts are not uncommon in aviation, this particular incident is notable due to the unusually high speed reached by the aircraft before the mistake was detected. Most similar incidents are quickly detected and aborted at much lower speeds, which highlights the severity of this particular event.<\/p>\n
Lessons Learned: Improving Aviation Safety<\/p>\n
This incident at Brussels Airport serves as a stark reminder of the complexities and challenges involved in aviation safety. While the event did not result in injuries or fatalities, it has brought to light several important considerations for pilot training, airport procedures, and aircraft operations.<\/p>\n
Pilot Training and Awareness: Ensuring that pilots are continuously trained to respond to high-pressure situations and that they are equipped with the necessary tools for quick decision-making is crucial.Airport Operations: This event highlights the importance of clear and well-marked taxiways, as well as rigorous operational checks to prevent misalignments during taxiing.Aircraft Safety Features: While the aircraft\u2019s braking system performed admirably in this instance, ensuring that all safety systems are fully operational and optimized for emergency situations is essential.A Wake-Up Call for Aviation Safety at Brussels Airport<\/p>\n
In conclusion, the incident involving the SAS Airbus A320neo at Brussels Airport serves as a significant wake-up call for the aviation industry. It reinforces the need for heightened awareness and vigilance among pilots, airport authorities, and ground crews. While Brussels is a major European hub, this event shows that even the most experienced pilots can make mistakes under pressure.<\/p>\n
The 135 passengers who were on board that flight are fortunate that quick thinking and precise actions from the flight crew prevented a potential catastrophe. Moving forward, it is essential for the industry to adopt stricter operational procedures, reinforce pilot training, and improve airport infrastructure to ensure that incidents like this are never repeated.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1771578246_109_leaderboard-app-design24.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Published on March 12, 2026 Image generated with Ai On March 11, 2026, a serious aviation incident occurred…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5859,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[557,184,50,68,7,18,187],"class_list":{"0":"post-5858","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-brussels","8":"tag-107-knots","9":"tag-airbus-a320neo","10":"tag-airline-news","11":"tag-airlines-news-of-europe","12":"tag-belgium","13":"tag-brussels","14":"tag-sas"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@be\/116215405948217630","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5858","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5858"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5858\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5859"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5858"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5858"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5858"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}