On Thursday 5 February 2026 around 21:00 a Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) Airbus A320Neo (SK2590) started take-off on a taxiway instead of the runway. Luckily, the aircraft was brought to a safe stop and more than 100 passengers were disembarked via stairs. No damage. No injuries. Two days later, a. journalist asked me if the pilots would be punished for their mistake. I explained that that wouldn’t help anyone. Not the passengers, not the public, not the company, not the pilots, and definitely not safety.
Pilots unlikely to face punishment
The investigation into the incident has begun: the first interviews will start this weekend. The two pilots have been suspended for now. But whether they will ultimately be punished is doubtful.
What will happen to the pilot and co-pilot now? They are sure to have a few sleepless nights, say fellow pilots. Even though everything turned out well and they managed to avoid a disaster. Rudy Pont (photo) is a pilot himself and a member of the Belgian Cockpit Association (BeCA). He is also a member of the Air Safety Committee and was called to Zaventem to meet and support the two colleagues involved in the cockpit. “They were deeply affected by what happened,” says Pont.
What could the consequences be for them? “In the aviation sector, the principle of Just Culture applies. Unintentional mistakes and honest errors are not punished,“ says Rudy Pont. ”Only mistakes that are the result of unacceptable or irresponsible behaviour are subject to legal consequences. So the intention is not to criminalise pilots who make a mistake.”
How is the investigation progressing? The investigation launched by the Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) of the Federal Public Service Mobility and Transport includes analysing the black boxes. Communications with the control tower will also likely be reviewed. “The aim of this investigation is to determine what went wrong and whether any improvements or adjustments can be made to prevent such incidents from happening again in the future,” emphasizes Thomas DeSpiegelaere of the FPS Mobility. (tg)
Translated with DeepL.com