A serious incident occurred today at Split Airport during the takeoff of a Croatia Airlines aircraft operating a flight to Frankfurt. According to initial information, the aircraft ended up off the runway, on a grassy area alongside it. Dalmacija Danas reports that passengers were evacuated.
The aircraft was scheduled to operate flight OU412, departing Split for Frankfurt at 13:00.
The aircraft involved is an Airbus A220-300, registered 9A-CAN, which was delivered to Croatia Airlines in June 2025 as part of the national carrier’s fleet renewal programme.
According to the available information, the runway excursion occurred during takeoff, while the cause of the incident is not yet known. At the time of publication, there was no official information on possible injuries or potential damage to the aircraft.
Following the incident, traffic at Split Airport was temporarily suspended, and scheduled flights were delayed. Inbound flights were diverted. Flight-tracking services show that airport operations have been suspended.
Media inquiries have been sent to Split Airport and Croatia Airlines. Their responses will be published as soon as they are received.
Text update at 14:59
Jutarnji list has published new information about today’s incident at Split Airport, where a Croatia Airlines aircraft operating flight OU412 to Frankfurt ended up partially off the runway during takeoff.
According to a statement by Pero Bilas, Deputy Director of Split Airport, the incident occurred at around 13:30 and involved an Airbus A220-300 registered 9A-CAN. The aircraft was scheduled to operate the Split–Frankfurt flight, with a planned departure time of 13:00.
Bilas confirmed to Jutarnji list that, during the acceleration phase, the aircraft veered off the runway for reasons that are not yet known, with one side ending up on the grassy area alongside the runway. According to the available information, the aircraft sustained damage after coming into contact with a vertical sign and runway edge lights.
There were 132 passengers and five crew members on board at the time of the incident. All were safely disembarked following the incident, and according to confirmed information, none of the passengers were injured.
Split Airport’s technical services are working to remove the aircraft from the runway, while the Croatian Civil Aviation Agency and the Air, Maritime and Railway Accident Investigation Agency have been notified of the event.
Split Airport says it is cooperating with the relevant authorities and that the public will be regularly informed about further developments.
Text update at 15:31
Croatia Airlines responded to AvioRadar’s media inquiry and confirmed that all passengers and crew members are safe and that no one was injured.
The Airbus A220-300, registration 9A-CAN, which was scheduled to operate regular international flight OU412 on the Split – Frankfurt route, had 130 passengers and five crew members on board, two pilots and three cabin crew members.
According to the first available information from Croatia Airlines, the crew, acting in accordance with prescribed safety procedures, stopped the aircraft following a rejected takeoff. The passengers left the aircraft and are currently in the passenger terminal building at Split Airport, where they are receiving all necessary support for the continuation of their journey.
Croatia Airlines states that it is in constant coordination with Split Airport, the relevant services and aviation authorities. More information will be published after the initial expert checks and official procedures have been completed.
Text update at 20:04
According to the available information and eyewitness accounts, the takeoff roll was interrupted, in other words a rejected takeoff was performed, after which the aircraft lost stability and its left landing gear came into contact with the grassy area next to the runway. During the incident, the engine struck a vertical sign next to the runway. The passengers disembarked calmly, and an emergency evacuation using slides was not ordered.
According to METAR data, the wind at the time of takeoff was 17 knots, with gusts of up to 27 knots.
“LDSP 161100Z 31017G27KT 9999 -RA FEW018 BKN045 13/10 Q0997 TEMPO SHRA FEW025TCU BKN045”
For the Airbus A220-300, publicly available FCOM material for the BD-500/A220 states that the maximum recommended crosswind component for takeoff is 32 kt on a dry runway, and likewise 32 kt on a wet or damp runway when braking action is reported as “good”. In poorer conditions, that value decreases, for example, to 27 kt for “good to medium”, 20 kt for “medium”, and 10 kt for “medium to poor” or “poor”. The same section also notes that AFM engine operating limitations due to wind may be more restrictive. These figures indicate borderline crosswind conditions at the time of takeoff.
The aircraft operating the Copenhagen to Split flight was diverted to Zagreb due to the closure of Split Airport, and after the airport reopened, it continued to Split. The same aircraft, an Airbus A319 registered 9A-CTG, then took on the passengers from the flight involved in the incident and departed for Frankfurt. According to unofficial information available to AvioRadar, there were 120 passengers on that flight, meaning that 10 passengers decided not to continue their journey after the incident.
Split Airport, officially named St. Jerome Airport, reopened to traffic at around 16:00 local time, after being closed for approximately three hours due to the incident. During the closure, nine arriving flights were diverted, 15 departing flights were delayed, and two flights were cancelled.
All safety and incident-related procedures have been carried out. The investigation into the circumstances and causes of the incident falls under the authority of the Air, Maritime and Railway Accident Investigation Agency.
