An Edelweiss Airbus A320 operating a scheduled flight from Zurich, Switzerland suffered a loss of directional control following a tyre burst during a rejected takeoff on October 27.
Edelweiss flight WK298 Zurich – Faro
Edelweiss flight WK298, an Airbus A320-200 operating from Zürich Airport (ZRH) to Faro International Airport (FAO) Portugal, was well established into the take off roll when the incident occurred.
As the aircraft accelerated through approximately 140 kt on RWY32, the flight crew initiated a rejected takeoff procedure. As the aircraft decelerated, it experienced a left-hand main gear tyre burst which resulted in a temporary loss of directional control, causing the aircraft to swerve to the left of the runway.
A subsequent statement by an airline spokesperson advised that “the plane exhibited unusual behavior on the runway” which prompted them to initiate the rejected take off action.
Video footage of the incident shows the aircraft clearly losing directional control with a sharp swerve to the left, before directional control was subsequently regained.
Following the take off incident, the aircraft subsequently vacated the runway and passengers were disembarked via air stairs to the tarmac apron.
The terminal area forecast for the flight’s departure shows no significant weather conditions with light winds and visibility of 10 km or more at the time of the incident.
The aircraft operating the Zürich to Faro rotation was Airbus A320-200 registration HB-IHY; a 24-year old narrowbody aircraft belonging to the Swiss carrier Edelweiss.
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