A serious aviation scare unfolded at Brussels Airport on Thursday after a Scandinavian Airlines Airbus A320-251N mistakenly accelerated for take-off on a taxiway instead of the designated runway.
Confirming the incident, Brussels Airport spokeswoman Ariane Goossens said the aircraft had begun its take-off roll on a taxiway meant only for aircraft movement between the terminal and the runway.
“The take-off of a Scandinavian Airlines plane was interrupted,” Goossens said. “The aircraft had started take-off from the taxiway instead of the runway.”
Before the error was detected, the aircraft reportedly reached a speed of 117 knots (about 220 km/h) on the taxiway, raising alarm due to the limited space and nearby infrastructure.
The jet eventually came to a halt just short of a fuel farm located at the end and to the left of the taxiway, averting what could have been a major disaster.
Airport operations were briefly disrupted, though no injuries were reported and damage was avoided.
Authorities have since launched an investigation into the incident. Belgian aviation officials are expected to examine cockpit procedures, air traffic control communications, and ground markings at Brussels Airport to determine how the dangerous mix-up occurred.
The incident has reignited concerns within the aviation community over runway and taxiway confusion, especially at busy international hubs, where a split-second error can carry grave consequences.
Source:@aviationbrk
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