Belgium’s Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) has released its preliminary findings into the 5 February incident in which a Scandinavian Airlines Airbus A320neo almost attempted a full take-off roll from taxiway E1 instead of runway 07R at Brussels Airport. Details published on 7 March reveal the aircraft reached 127 knots—just 5 knots below V1—before the crew rejected the take-off, stopping metres from a perimeter fence.
Investigators cite a perfect storm of human-factor and infrastructural failings: a defective illuminated sign, extinguished stop-bar lights and a temporary combination of ground and tower frequencies that left one controller managing seven aircraft. Wet, nighttime conditions further degraded visual cues.
![Near-miss at Brussels Airport: report shows SAS A320neo hit 127 knots on taxiway before aborting take-off]()
The event underscores mounting concerns about runway-incursion risk at Europe’s congested hubs. Brussels Airport has several known “hot-spots,” and the AAIU is urging the airport operator and air-navigation service provider Skeyes to accelerate installation of advanced surface-monitoring tools. SAS, for its part, will fast-track ‘Airport Moving Map’ software across its fleet—technology that would have issued cockpit warnings as soon as the jet lined up on the wrong surface.
If sudden operational disruptions require re-routes or unexpected stops in nearby countries, VisaHQ can help travellers secure the necessary transit or entry documents quickly. Their Belgium portal (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) offers streamlined visa and eTA processing, which can be crucial when airport incidents like this one lead to last-minute itinerary changes.
For travel-risk and assignment managers, the report is a reminder that aviation safety events can trigger sudden airport closures and knock-on delays. Companies with mission-critical staff should monitor NOTAMs and factor possible ground-operation investigations into travel-timeline buffers. Further AAIU updates are expected, but the final report could take up to a year.
Investigators cite a perfect storm of human-factor and infrastructural failings: a defective illuminated sign, extinguished stop-bar lights and a temporary combination of ground and tower frequencies that left one controller managing seven aircraft. Wet, nighttime conditions further degraded visual cues.
The event underscores mounting concerns about runway-incursion risk at Europe’s congested hubs. Brussels Airport has several known “hot-spots,” and the AAIU is urging the airport operator and air-navigation service provider Skeyes to accelerate installation of advanced surface-monitoring tools. SAS, for its part, will fast-track ‘Airport Moving Map’ software across its fleet—technology that would have issued cockpit warnings as soon as the jet lined up on the wrong surface.
If sudden operational disruptions require re-routes or unexpected stops in nearby countries, VisaHQ can help travellers secure the necessary transit or entry documents quickly. Their Belgium portal (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) offers streamlined visa and eTA processing, which can be crucial when airport incidents like this one lead to last-minute itinerary changes.
For travel-risk and assignment managers, the report is a reminder that aviation safety events can trigger sudden airport closures and knock-on delays. Companies with mission-critical staff should monitor NOTAMs and factor possible ground-operation investigations into travel-timeline buffers. Further AAIU updates are expected, but the final report could take up to a year.
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