SAS flight makes emergency landing at Arlanda – Flight 751 forced to turn back shortly after take-off
It was a dramatic start to the day on Thursday morning when an SAS flight, number 751, was forced to turn back to Arlanda just minutes after departure. The aircraft, which was heading to a European destination, experienced technical issues, leading the crew to make the immediate decision to return for an emergency landing.
'There was a loud bang and the whole plane shook'
"We had just settled in and the plane was starting to climb. Then there was a really loud bang and the whole cabin shook for a few seconds. You knew straight away something was seriously wrong," says a passenger who was on board.
The atmosphere inside the cabin is described as tense but calm. Cabin crew acted quickly and informed everyone they would be heading back to Arlanda.
What happened – minute by minute
- 8:35 am: The aircraft takes off from runway 01L at Arlanda.
- 8:47 am: The pilots report technical problems and request an immediate return.
- 8:52 am: The plane lines up for its approach back to Arlanda.
- 8:58 am: The emergency landing is carried out without further incident. All 167 passengers and crew are unharmed.
- 9:05 am: Emergency services and ambulances are on standby, but no medical attention is required.
According to reports, it was a technical fault that led the pilots to shut down one engine as a purely precautionary measure. The aircraft, an Airbus A320neo, is designed to handle precisely these kinds of situations.
Arlanda returns to normal operations
One runway was briefly closed to ensure the emergency landing could take place safely. This impacted a handful of departures, but by around 10:00 am, air traffic at Arlanda was back to normal. Airport authorities have confirmed that an investigation into the cause is now underway, in cooperation with SAS and the aircraft manufacturer.
A curious coincidence with flight number 751
For many aviation enthusiasts, the flight number 751 stirs memories. It was the same number on 27 December 1991, when an SAS MD-80 was forced to crash-land in a field in Gottröra after severe engine vibrations. All 129 people on board survived that crash – an event that went down in history as the 'Gottröra miracle'. The fact that flight 751 has again found itself in trouble feels fateful, but this time, the worst was avoided.
"You do think about it, of course. But I'm just glad we're on solid ground and that everyone's okay," the passenger said.
A report regarding the aviation incident has been filed by police, but at this stage there are no suspicions of any criminal offence. The investigation is focusing entirely on the technical circumstances.