Croatia Airlines’ Airbus A220-300, registration 9A-CAN, has flown for the first time in more than five months after a serious runway excursion at Split Airport. The aircraft was ferried from Split to Zagreb on 20 October, but its return to the air does not confirm that repairs are complete or that it has been cleared to resume scheduled passenger operations.
The approximately 40-minute flight operated as OU7651 and was tracked from Split to Zagreb. The landing gear remained extended throughout the flight, while the aircraft climbed to only about 14,000 feet (4,300 metres), indicating that it was conducted as a ferry movement rather than a normal service.
The aircraft had been grounded since 16 May, when it was preparing to operate flight OU412 from Split to Frankfurt. During the takeoff roll, the crew rejected the takeoff after the aircraft veered left. It left the paved surface and stopped with the nose gear and left main landing gear on the grass beside the runway. The landing gear and left engine were damaged, although no injuries were reported.
The investigation remains open, and the cause has not been established. Weather and runway conditions have reportedly been excluded as contributing factors. The reason for the Zagreb ferry flight, the aircraft’s current technical status and any timetable for its return to commercial service remain unclear. Croatia Airlines had not publicly commented on the movement at the time of reporting.