A Croatia Airlines Airbus A220-300 aborted its take-off and veered off the runway at Split Airport on Saturday, coming to a stop on adjacent grass without injuries to those on board, according to airport officials and the airline.
The aircraft, registration 9A-CAN, was operating flight OU412 from Split to Frankfurt when the incident occurred during the take-off roll. The jet reportedly reached around 131 knots before the crew rejected the take-off. For reasons not yet determined, the aircraft drifted off the paved surface, striking runway edge lights and at least one vertical sign before stopping partly on the grass.
There were between 130 and 132 passengers on board, along with five crew members, including two pilots and three cabin crew. All occupants were safely evacuated and transferred to the terminal, where arrangements were made for the continuation of their journeys.
Croatia Airlines said the crew acted in accordance with prescribed safety and emergency procedures. Split Airport temporarily suspended operations while emergency and technical teams worked to secure and tow the aircraft, leading to cancellations, diversions and delays through the afternoon and evening.
The Croatian air accident investigation authority and civil aviation regulator have been notified, and an investigation is under way to determine the cause of the runway excursion.