Pegasus Airlines flight PC-996 began accelerating in the wrong direction on runway 18 at Frankfurt Airport on 20 October, prompting air traffic controllers to order an immediate rejected takeoff. The Airbus A321neo, registered TC-RDO, was scheduled to fly to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen and had reached the runway via taxiway S before turning right towards the opposite runway direction.
The aircraft was travelling at approximately 35 knots, or 65 km/h, when the DFS controllers intervened. It left the runway via taxiway M after about 530 metres, returned to the holding point at S and departed normally around seven minutes later.
No injuries or aircraft damage were reported. DFS confirmed that the occurrence had been reported to the responsible authorities. The German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation will decide whether to open a formal investigation.
Available reporting does not establish why the crew turned towards the north instead of aligning with the cleared southerly direction on runway 18. The flight subsequently continued without further reported problems.