SAS flight makes emergency landing at Auckland Airport – Flight 751 forced to turn back shortly after takeoff
It was a dramatic morning in the skies above Auckland when an SAS flight, number 751, was forced to return to the airport just minutes after takeoff. The aircraft, which was en route to a European destination, experienced technical issues and the crew made the immediate decision to turn back for an emergency landing.
"There was a loud bang and the whole plane shook"
"We'd just settled in and the plane was climbing. Then there was this really loud bang and the whole cabin shook for a few seconds. You just knew straight away something was seriously wrong," says a passenger who was on board.
The atmosphere on the plane was tense but calm, according to reports. Cabin crew acted quickly and informed passengers they would be heading back to Auckland.
What happened – minute by minute
- 8:35 am: Aircraft takes off from runway 01L at Auckland Airport.
- 8:47 am: Pilots report technical issues and request immediate return.
- 8:52 am: Aircraft lines up for approach back into Auckland.
- 8:58 am: Emergency landing carried out without incident. All 167 passengers and crew are uninjured.
- 9:05 am: Emergency services and ambulances on standby at the scene, but no medical assistance required.
Reports indicate a technical fault prompted pilots to shut down one engine as a precautionary measure. The aircraft, an Airbus A320neo, is specifically designed to handle such situations.
Auckland Airport returns to normal operations
One runway was temporarily closed to ensure the emergency landing could be carried out safely. This caused minor disruptions to a handful of departures, but by around 10:00 am, flight operations at Auckland Airport were 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 strange coincidence with flight number 751
For aviation enthusiasts, the flight number 751 strikes a particular chord. It was the same number used on December 27, 1991, when an SAS MD-80 aircraft was forced to crash-land in a field near Gottröra after severe engine vibrations. All 129 people on board survived that crash – an event that went down in history as the "Gottröra miracle." Seeing flight 751 back in trouble feels somewhat fated, but this time around, the worst was avoided.
"Of course, it crosses your mind. But honestly, I'm just glad we're back on solid ground and everyone's okay," the passenger says.
Police have filed a report regarding the aviation incident, but at this stage, no criminal activity is suspected. The investigation is focused entirely on the technical circumstances surrounding the event.