A TUI Boeing B787-9 was involved in a taxiway excursion after aborting a takeoff from Melbourne Orlando International Airport on 18 March.
TUI flight BY601, operated by a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner was departing from runway 9R Melbourne-Orlando International Airport (MLB). The aircraft was conducting a scheduled service bound for Birmingham International Airport (BHX) in the United Kingdom.
TUI BY601 Taxiway Excursion
Flight crew aborted the takeoff at high speed after an alarm went off on the flightdeck. The aircraft subsequently vacated the runway via Taxiway C.
During the runway exit, the aircraft’s right-hand main landing gear overran the taxiway edge before becoming bogged in the grass shoulder.
The aircraft became disabled, and the 350 passengers were disembarked at the taxiway point. Passengers were then transported by bus to the airport terminal, before being accommodated at nearby hotels.
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Airport Director Greg Donovan confirmed the taxiway excursion incident. “A B787-9 TUI aircraft departing for Birmingham, UK aborted their takeoff on runway 9R due to an alarm in the cockpit. While exiting the runway at Taxiway C, the aircraft’s right main landing gear went into the grass.”
Mechanics from STS are working with ground crews and towing resources to move the aircraft.
Paul Alfrey the Mayor of the City of Melbourne, is also a Board Member at the Melbourne Airport. In a post to social media Mayor Alfrey confirmed that there were no reported injuries as a result of the ground incident.
He stated: “I want to commend our airport team and first responders for working late into the night during this incident. Any incident on a plane is stressful and our airport team showed why they are among the best in the aviation field!”
The aircraft conducting the BY601 service to Birmingham International Airport was a Boeing 787-9, registered G-TUIN. This is a 5.5 year old widebody aircraft belonging to the carrier TUI Airways.
It has been in operational service with the airline since its initial delivery from the factory in November 2019.
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