Travellers Left Shaken as Scandinavian Airlines Airbus A320neo Aborts Takeoff When Crew Realises Plane Is Accelerating on Taxiway in Brussels

Air travel is usually full of familiar motions — taxi out, line up, take off, and you’re on your way.

But for passengers on one Scandinavian Airlines flight in Brussels, that routine quickly turned into something far more unsettling.

Travellers onboard SAS flight SK2590, heading from Belgium to Copenhagen, found themselves in a moment they say they won’t forget anytime soon, after the pilot abruptly stopped the aircraft just as it was building speed for departure.

The Flight That Never Left the Ground

The Airbus A320neo, carrying 165 people, was scheduled to take off on the evening of February 5.

The trip was already running late, delayed by more than an hour, with the airport reportedly dealing with snow and heavy pressure from disrupted schedules.

Instead of a smooth departure, the aircraft began accelerating down what was later believed to be a taxiway — a stretch of pavement meant for moving planes around the airport, not for actual take-offs.

Taxiways are typically shorter than runways, and as the aircraft picked up speed, the crew realised there simply wasn’t enough space.

A Sudden High-Speed Stop

Reports suggest the plane reached speeds of around 125mph before the take-off was abruptly aborted.

Passengers described the braking as intense and shocking, with the force instantly felt throughout the cabin.

The aircraft reportedly ended up partially on a grassy area beside the pavement, and its brakes overheated during the emergency stop — something that can happen when an aircraft brakes hard at high speed.

“Something Clearly Wasn’t Right”

One passenger, Simon Berneblad Mandegård, said the atmosphere at the airport already felt tense because of weather-related disruptions.

He explained that everything seemed normal at first: the plane taxied out, lined up, and began accelerating like any other take-off.

But then, the mood changed in seconds.

He recalled the pilot slamming on the brakes, the cabin lurching forward, and the frightening sensation that the plane was running out of room.

According to him, the manoeuvre to keep the aircraft on the paved surface was sharp and dramatic.

“It was a very dramatic moment,” he said, adding that emergency services arrived quickly.

Confusion in the Cockpit

Simon also shared that the pilot addressed passengers afterward, saying he had never experienced anything like it in his 28 years of flying.

That comment alone left many passengers wondering how such an error could happen, with the suggestion that miscommunication with air traffic control may have played a role.

While investigations will determine the cause, aviation experts note that airport operations can become more complicated during snow conditions, when visibility, runway availability, and congestion all increase pressure on both pilots and controllers.

Passengers Shaken but Safe

Thankfully, no injuries were reported, but several travellers described the experience as “terrifying.”

The flight was cancelled, and passengers were evacuated from the aircraft just before midnight.

SAS later arranged alternative flights for those trying to reach Copenhagen.

SAS Responds

Scandinavian Airlines confirmed that an “irregularity” occurred and stressed that safety remains their top priority.

The airline said it is conducting a full internal investigation alongside local authorities to understand exactly what went wrong and how the situation unfolded.

Other Known Context About Taxiway Mistakes

While rare, incidents involving runway or taxiway confusion have occurred in aviation history, especially at busy airports or during poor weather conditions.

Modern airports rely on strict markings, lighting systems, and air traffic instructions to prevent these mistakes, and aircraft crews are trained to verify their position before take-off.

Events like this often trigger detailed reviews, and aviation authorities typically issue safety recommendations to ensure the same situation does not happen again.

What’s Next?

The key question now is what investigators uncover about the sequence of events — whether it was a navigation error, a misunderstanding with air traffic control, or an operational issue caused by weather and congestion.

SAS and local aviation authorities are expected to review cockpit procedures, tower communications, and airport conditions from that evening.

Passengers may also be interviewed as part of the process.

For those onboard, the priority is simply moving forward after what many called one of the most intense moments they’ve ever experienced in the air — without even leaving the ground.

Summary

Passengers on SAS flight SK2590 were left shaken after the pilot aborted take-off in Brussels when the aircraft reportedly accelerated down a taxiway instead of the runway.

The plane reached high speed before stopping abruptly, partially ending up near a grassy area with overheated brakes.

No injuries were reported, but travellers described the incident as terrifying.

SAS cancelled the flight, evacuated passengers, offered alternative travel, and launched an investigation with local authorities to determine what went wrong.