Article updates are below
On Sunday, June 8, at 15:21 local time, an Air Pannonia Cessna 525 aircraft (registration: 9A-JIM) veered off the runway while landing at Zagreb Airport. The aircraft was operating a flight from Milan (Linate Airport) and, unofficially, had not reported any issues before landing. The plane performed a standard approach and landing on Runway 22 but after touchdown and during deceleration, skidded off the runway between taxiways C and D, to the left in the direction of Runway 22. The airport was immediately closed to all traffic.
The management of Franjo Tuđman Airport stated its official Facebook page, which we reproduce in full:
“During the landing of a private Air Pannonia aircraft, a Cessna 525 with registration 9A-JIM, the plane slid onto the grassy area alongside the runway at Franjo Tuđman Airport. Preparations are underway to remove the aircraft, and Franjo Tuđman Airport remains closed to all traffic until further notice, by prescribed procedures.
According to information from Air Pannonia representatives, the flight was empty, and no one was injured. Franjo Tuđman Airport apologizes to passengers for delays in the arrivals and departures of other flights caused by this incident.
The public will be notified when the airport reopens for traffic.”
The aircraft in question is a private Cessna 525 CitationJet (serial number 525-0277), which is 27 years old.
Due to the airport closure, disruptions occurred in arriving and departing flights:
ARRIVALS:
LH1406 (Lufthansa) from Frankfurt, scheduled to land at 14:15 – diverted to Vienna (delayed departure, took off at 14:40)
JU602 (Air Serbia) from Belgrade, scheduled at 14:30 – diverted to Ljubljana (delayed departure, took off at 14:59)
EJM885 (Executive Jet Management) from Zadar, scheduled at 15:30, diverted to Rijeka
KL1967 (KLM) from Amsterdam, scheduled at 16:15 – diverted to Ljubljana
FR8837 (Ryanair operated by Lauda) from Rome, scheduled at 16:25 – diverted to Vienna
OU657 (Croatia Airlines) from Split, scheduled at 16:50, did not depart for Zagreb
C3813 (Trade Air) from Osijek, scheduled at 17:00 – returned to Osijek
OU667 (Croatia Airlines) from Dubrovnik, scheduled at 17:00, did not depart for Zagreb
OU675 (Croatia Airlines) from Zadar, scheduled at 17:00, did not depart for Zagreb
OU345 (Croatia Airlines) from Sarajevo, scheduled at 17:05, did not depart for Zagreb
OU369 (Croatia Airlines) from Skopje, scheduled at 17:10, diverted to Zadar
OU411 (Croatia Airlines) from Frankfurt, scheduled at 17:15, did not depart for Zagreb
LO613 (LOT) from Warsaw, scheduled at 17:20 – canceled
Other incoming flights are currently listed as delayed, but further cancellations are possible if the airport closure is prolonged.
DEPARTURES:
OU344 (Croatia Airlines) to Sarajevo at 14:55 – delayed, estimated departure at 18:10
JU603 (Air Serbia) to Belgrade at 15:00 – status unknown (incoming flight diverted to Ljubljana)
LH1407 (Lufthansa) to Frankfurt at 15:00 – canceled
AF1561 (Air France) to Paris at 15:15 – delayed, estimated departure at 17:40
OU300 (Croatia Airlines) to Dubrovnik at 15:15 – delayed, estimated departure at 18:10
EW973 (Eurowings) to Cologne at 15:45 – delayed, estimated departure at 18:00
PC376 (Pegasus) to Istanbul at 16:00 – delayed, estimated departure at 18:10
FR5927 (Ryanair operated by Lauda) to Pisa at 16:30 – delayed, estimated departure at 17:45
FR5937 (Ryanair operated by Lauda) to Brussels at 16:50 – delayed, estimated departure at 20:12
KL1968 (KLM) to Amsterdam at 15:55 – canceled
LO614 (LOT) to Warsaw at 18:05 – canceled
Other departing flights are currently listed as delayed, but further cancellations may occur if the airport remains closed.
Article Update, June 8, 2025, at 23:34 p.m.
The airline whose aircraft was involved in the incident, Air Pannonia, issued an official press release today at around 23:30, stating that the cause of the incident was a burst tire and explaining that the closure of Zagreb Airport was due to a lack of adequate towing equipment for the aircraft in question. We are publishing the statement in full:
“Today at around 15:00, while landing at Franjo Tuđman Airport, a tire burst on our Cessna Citation 525 aircraft with registration number 9A-JIM.
Thanks solely to the captain’s composure, extensive experience, and expertise, the aircraft came to a stop with only its left wheel on the grass. At the moment of the tire burst, only the crew was on board. None of the crew members were injured, though the cause of the tire failure has yet to be determined.
Our company has been operating since 2014, with a fleet of three aircraft for VIP passenger transport, and we have years of experience in passenger transportation. Today’s incident should have been just a minor unfortunate event, and the removal of the aircraft should have been completed within an hour at most.
Unfortunately, due to a lack of equipment at Zagreb Airport, our team had to bring in equipment from Osijek and spent the entire day attempting to find a safe solution for removing the aircraft. We hereby apologize to all passengers who were redirected to other airports due to this incident. We hope air traffic will resume shortly.”
As of the time of this update (23:38), the airport remains closed, and all flights have been canceled. According to the NOTAM, the estimated time for reopening is still 22:00.
Article Update, June 9, 2025, at 07:02 a.m.
Franjo Tuđman Airport was reopened for traffic last night at 00:51. Due to the airport’s closure for 9 hours and 30 minutes, more than 40 incoming and consequently outgoing flights were canceled or experienced significant delays. The airport administration advises passengers to contact their airlines for all flight-related information.
Article update, June 9, 2025, at 12:16 p.m.
The administration of Franjo Tuđman Airport has issued a statement clarifying that they do possess the necessary equipment for aircraft recovery and that the final result of the airport’s closure was 59 canceled flights—28 departures and 31 arrivals. The statement is published in full below:
“Franjo Tuđman Airport was closed for traffic from June 8, 2025, at 3:21 p.m. until June 9, 2025, at 12:51 a.m. due to the skidding of an Air Panonia aircraft, a Cessna 525, registration 9A-JIM, onto the grassy area near the edge of the runway. The aircraft was unoccupied, and none of the crew members were injured.
No emergency alert was declared at the airport, and in accordance with the procedure for such incidents, an initial inspection and investigation had to be conducted first. Only afterward did the aircraft recovery process begin.
Given that the damaged aircraft came to a stop on the unpaved terrain near the runway’s edge, the recovery procedure was complex and required specialized equipment as well as additional time to prevent further damage to the aircraft.
Franjo Tuđman Airport is equipped with the necessary technical resources, which were utilized in this case. In such situations, the prescribed procedure is followed, including assistance and coordination with external services. Therefore, we would like to extend special thanks to the Velika Gorica Public Fire Brigade for their coordination and assistance.
During the airport’s closure, a total of 59 flights were canceled: 28 departures and 31 arrivals. As of this morning, operations have normalized and are proceeding according to the flight schedule.
Zagreb International Airport regrets the inconvenience caused to passengers due to this incident. The safety of passengers, staff, and all airport users is our absolute priority, which is why we take all necessary measures to maintain it at the highest level.”
