SAS flight makes emergency landing at Arlanda – Flight 751 forced to turn back shortly after take-off

There were dramatic scenes in the sky over Stockholm on Thursday morning when a SAS plane, flight 751, was forced to turn back to Arlanda just minutes after taking off. The aircraft, which was heading to a European destination, experienced technical difficulties and the crew made the swift decision to return for an emergency landing.

'There was a loud bang and the whole plane shook'

"We'd just settled in and the plane was beginning its ascent. Then there was this really loud bang and the whole cabin shook for a few seconds. You just knew instantly that something was seriously wrong," said a passenger who was on board.

The atmosphere inside the cabin was tense but calm, according to reports. Cabin crew acted quickly, informing passengers that they would be returning to Arlanda.

What happened – a minute-by-minute account

• 08:35: The aircraft takes off from runway 01L at Arlanda.
• 08:47: The pilots report technical problems and request an immediate return.
• 08:52: The plane lines up for its approach back to Arlanda.
• 08:58: The emergency landing is carried out without further incident. All 167 passengers and crew are unharmed.
• 09:05: Emergency services and ambulances are on standby at the airport, but no medical attention is required.

Reports indicate a technical fault led the pilots to shut down one engine as a precautionary measure. The aircraft, an Airbus A320neo, is designed to handle such situations.

Arlanda operations return to normal

One runway was briefly closed to ensure the emergency landing could be conducted safely. This caused minor disruptions to a handful of departures, but by 10 am, flight traffic at Arlanda had returned 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 rings a bell. It was the same number used on 27 December 1991, when an SAS MD-80 aircraft was forced to crash-land in a field in Gottröra after severe engine vibrations. All 129 people on board survived that incident – an event that became known in Sweden as the 'Gottröra miracle'. The fact that flight 751 has once again found itself in trouble feels rather fateful, but this time, the worst was avoided.

"Of course, it crosses your mind. But I'm just relieved we're on solid ground and that everyone's alright," the passenger added.

Police have filed a report concerning the aviation incident, but there are no suspicions of any criminal activity at this stage. The investigation is entirely focused on the technical circumstances.