Emergency at Belgrade

Austrian Airlines Fokker F100

An Austrian Airlines Fokker F100, registration OE-LVL performing flight OS774 from Belgrade to Vienna with 83 passengers and 5 crew, were preparing for departure from Belgrade when the left hand engine began to emit smoke during the engine start. Passengers and crew were evacuated while no injuries occurred. Serbian media reported that the plane was about to take off when the pilots in the cockpit were informed that both engines were on fire. Passengers and crew were evacuated via the aircraft’s emergency slides within 20 minutes. The flight was cancelled with passengers transferred onto Jat Airways’ flight to Vienna.

A number of media in Serbia first reported that the aircraft took off and returned to Belgrade with both engines on fire while others reported a rejected takeoff due to a smoking engine. The latter is the confirmed, correct, version of events. The incident occurred while the aircraft was still parked at the gate.

Austrian offers 3 daily flights from Vienna to Belgrade. The aircraft involved in the incident, named Odessa, is 18 years old and operated for Austrian Arrows. Airport authorities have launched a probe into the incident. All of the airport’s emergency services were seen near the aircraft.