Pegasus A321 at Frankfurt Airport began takeoff in wrong direction, pilots aborted
Pilots stopped the A321 at about 65 km/h after it began moving north from runway 18; the plane took off normally seven minutes later.
A Pegasus Airlines Airbus A321 bound for Istanbul attempted to start its takeoff in the wrong direction at Frankfurt Airport, a German air traffic control spokesperson said. Pilots aborted the takeoff when the aircraft was moving at about 65 kilometres per hour.
How the event unfolded
The German air traffic control (DFS) confirmed that the A321 began to taxi and accelerate toward the north from runway 18 instead of heading south. "This does not happen often, and especially not in Germany. Fortunately we resolved it in time and nothing bad happened," a DFS spokesperson said, adding that the aircraft was immediately instructed to leave the runway.
The incident has been reported to the German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation (BFU). Airport operator Fraport also acknowledged the occurrence but provided no further details.
Initial reporting by The Aviation Herald said the same aircraft took off without problems seven minutes later, on the correct heading for Istanbul.
No injuries or damage were reported in connection with the aborted departure. Authorities will investigate the circumstances that led to the aircraft moving in the wrong direction from runway 18.
The report was published on 26 October 2026.
Photo: press material from the event
