LOT Polish Airlines Embraer 170 slides off Vilnius runway
Key Points
- 1LOT Polish Airlines Embraer 170 slid off Vilnius Airport runway during landing.
- 263 passengers and 4 crew safely disembarked; no injuries reported from the incident.
- 3Vilnius Airport runway temporarily closed until 5 PM due to the excursion and heavy snow.
- 4Incident follows previous airport closures linked to weather balloons in October.
A LOT Polish Airlines Embraer 170 aircraft, operating flight LO771 from Warsaw, experienced a runway excursion upon landing at Vilnius Airport in Lithuania on Wednesday. The incident occurred at approximately 1:34 PM local time when the aircraft, registration SP-LDK, veered off the paved taxiway surface during the final phase of its landing roll. All 63 passengers and four crew members on board were safely disembarked using mobile stairs and transported to the terminal, with initial reports confirming no injuries.
The operational disruption led to the temporary closure of Vilnius Airport's runway, which officials stated would remain closed until 5 PM. This closure necessitated the cancellation of subsequent flights, including LOT Polish Airlines' return service, LO772, from Vilnius. The Polish flag carrier confirmed its technical services are collaborating with Vilnius Airport's operational teams to assess the situation and determine the necessary recovery procedures for the aircraft.
Heavy snowfall and inclement weather conditions are believed to be a significant contributing factor to the incident, with the Lithuanian Hydrometeorological Service having issued warnings for travelers to postpone journeys due to freezing temperatures. This event follows a series of six temporary closures at Vilnius Airport in October, which Lithuanian authorities attributed to weather balloons suspected of being used by smugglers for contraband cigarettes, highlighting ongoing operational challenges at the facility.
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