tech
March 10, 2026
SAS Crew Nearly Took Off From Taxiway in Brussels by Mistake: What the Preliminary Report Says
The Belgian Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) has released a preliminary report on a serious incident that occurred on February 5th at Brussels Airport (BRU), when a Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) Airbus A320neo began its takeoff roll from taxiway E1 instead of runway 07R.
TL;DR
- A SAS Airbus A320neo initiated a takeoff roll from taxiway E1 instead of runway 07R at Brussels Airport on February 5th.
- The crew realized the error at 127 knots, just below decision speed V1, and aborted the takeoff.
- The incident occurred during darkness and on a wet taxiway, with reduced lighting intensity and a malfunctioning taxiway sign.
- Contributing factors may include a complex runway layout, a single air traffic controller managing multiple frequencies, and a tight turnaround time for the flight.
- No injuries or damage to the aircraft occurred, and passengers were safely evacuated.
- SAS is implementing an "Airport Moving Map" function to enhance situational awareness for its fleet.
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