A Croatia Airlines flight bound for Frankfurt veered off the runway during takeoff at Split Airport today, with all 130 passengers and five crew members evacuated safely. The incident occurred around 1:10 PM local time when the Embraer A220-300 aircraft, attempting to take off, left the runway. The airport resumed normal operations by 4:00 PM, despite initial travel delays.
The plane ended up partially on the grassy area adjacent to the runway, damaging some of the signaling equipment. According to the airport, the aircraft's landing gear veered off the asphalt onto the grass, resulting in minor damage to the aircraft itself.
The Croatia Airlines crew followed established safety procedures and aborted the takeoff. Passengers were transferred to the terminal building where they received assistance to continue their journey.
Safety Investigation Launched
The Croatian Agency for the Investigation of Accidents in Air, Sea, and Rail Traffic has initiated a safety investigation into the incident. The airport's operations were normalized quickly, demonstrating the effectiveness of the emergency response procedures.
This is a big scare for Split Airport and Croatia Airlines. Safety protocols worked this time, but we can't keep dodging these close calls. When will the authorities take more serious steps to prevent such incidents?