An Airbus A321neo operated by Pegasus Airlines began a takeoff attempt in the wrong direction at Frankfurt Airport. Flight PC996 was scheduled to fly to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen, but the crew aligned the aircraft opposite to the authorized takeoff direction. The takeoff was only aborted after air traffic controllers intervened over the radio. The incident occurred on Tuesday, October 20, 2026.
The Airbus, registered as TC-RDO, taxied via Taxiway S onto runway 18. The entry point is located approximately 1,260 meters beyond the beginning of the runway. The crew had received clearance to depart from runway 18, which is oriented toward the south.
However, instead of turning left as intended, the aircraft turned right and lined up facing north. As a result, the aircraft was positioned in the opposite direction to the one authorized for takeoff.
Air Traffic Controllers Stop the Takeoff Roll
The crew subsequently began accelerating the Airbus along the runway. Air traffic controllers in the tower noticed the incorrect alignment and intervened by radio. At a speed of approximately 35 knots, equivalent to around 65 kilometers per hour, the pilots aborted the takeoff roll.
The incident was first reported by The Aviation Herald, a website specializing in aviation incidents and irregularities. Its report was based on information from air traffic control radio communications.
Following the aborted takeoff, the Airbus exited the runway via taxiway M (Mike). The exit is located approximately 530 meters beyond the point where the takeoff roll had begun. The aircraft then taxied back to the holding point at taxiway S (Sierra).
Flight to Istanbul Delayed by Seven Minutes
Ultimately, the incident caused only a brief delay. Approximately seven minutes after the aborted takeoff attempt, flight PC996 was able to depart again, this time in the intended direction toward Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen. According to the available information, the remainder of the flight proceeded without further incidents.
German air navigation service provider DFS confirmed to The Aviation Herald that the incident had been reported to the relevant authorities. The decision on whether an investigation will be launched, and what its scope might be, rests with the German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation (BFU).
Cause of the Incident Remains Unknown
It is not yet known why the crew turned in the opposite direction despite having received clearance for the authorized departure. There is also no confirmed information available about the precise circumstances that led to the incorrect alignment.
The fact that air traffic controllers identified the mistake at an early stage and the crew aborted the takeoff roll at a relatively low speed prevented the attempt from progressing any further. Further information from Pegasus Airlines was not yet available at the time of reporting.
