Harrowing landing in Vilnius as Avion Express flight skids off runway

It is a well-established fact that most aeroplane accidents occur during takeoff and landing stages. Research has indicated that the risk of an aviation disaster escalates by 80 per cent during these manoeuvres.

The passengers on the Avion Express chartered flight from Milan, Italy seemed to learn this the hard way. The plane landed in Vilnius, the capital city of Lithuania, at 1:20 p.m. (GMT) on Saturday, February 3.

As per reports by the LRT.lt service, the aircraft subsequently skidded off the runway, visuals of which, both videos and photos, started making rounds on the internet. The Vilnius airport swiftly put a stop to all arrivals and departures in response.

The airport authorities assured everyone that all passengers were safe. However, the runway remained off-limits for all flights until 4:40 p.m. (GMT). Flights due to arrive were redirected to airports in Kaunas and Palanga.

Reports indicate that there were 179 passengers and six crew members aboard the plane. The flight crew notified airport authorities that no injuries had been inflicted, and that the pilot managed to regain control of the aircraft, guiding it towards an underpass where the passengers left the plane.

One passenger, who wished to remain unidentified, explained to LRT.lt that the aircraft initially landed on the runway, skidded on the grass, and subsequently returned to the runway.

The passenger added, "Once the plane was on the grass, mud was flung onto the windows, blocking the view entirely".

Photos circulating online clearly capture this "shower" of mud.

The exact causes that led the plane to skid off the runway are yet to be determined. Lithuanian Airports have confirmed that they are presently examining the circumstances surrounding this unusual mishap. The goal of the ensuing investigation is to establish the cause of the incident.

Source: LRT.lt