SAS Flight Averts Crisis After Takeoff on Incorrect Taxiway

A Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) flight narrowly avoided a serious incident at Brussels Airport on February 5, 2026, when it attempted to take off from an incorrect taxiway. The aircraft, operating as flight SK2590 and scheduled to travel to Copenhagen Airport, began accelerating for takeoff on taxiway E1 instead of the designated runway 07R. The crew quickly recognized the error and executed a high-speed rejected takeoff, stopping just before the fuel farm area.

The flight, an Airbus A320neo registered as SE-ROM, was carrying 135 passengers and crew members. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. After the passengers safely disembarked onto the taxiway, they were transported by bus back to the terminal. The incident has prompted a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the ground navigation error.

Flight Operations and Safety Protocols Under Scrutiny

The incident occurred at approximately 22:03 local time (21:03 UTC). SAS flight SK2590 was cleared for takeoff from runway 07R but mistakenly lined up on the parallel taxiway. As the aircraft reached speeds of around 107 knots, the crew rejected the takeoff, bringing the aircraft to a stop at the V1/C1 taxiway intersection, close to fuel tanks. Emergency services responded as a precautionary measure.

Aviation safety authorities are treating this as a serious runway safety incident. Investigators will examine whether factors such as cockpit workload, expectation bias, and the geometry of the airport contributed to the crew’s misidentification of the taxiway. It is important to note that air traffic control instructions were reportedly correct, highlighting the need to evaluate flight-deck verification procedures.

Taxiway takeoff attempts are rare and pose significant risks due to limited stopping distances and obstacles nearby. In this instance, the aircraft halted just before the taxiway’s end, demonstrating the critical importance of the crew’s timely decision to reject the takeoff.

Impact on Future Safety Measures and Training

Safety experts underline that many serious aviation incidents occur on the ground, where the combination of high aircraft weights, accelerating speeds, and human factors can lead to dangerous situations. Although operations at Brussels Airport were not significantly disrupted, the findings from this investigation may lead to changes in airport signage, lighting, and enhanced cockpit callouts on some aircraft.

Similar incidents in the past have prompted stricter pre-takeoff runway verification procedures aimed at reducing the risk of surface navigation errors. The ongoing investigation will likely influence future training practices for airlines and contribute to improvements in airport surface-movement safety standards.

As SAS conducts an internal investigation in collaboration with local authorities, the aviation community awaits insights that could enhance safety protocols and prevent similar incidents in the future.