SAS flight makes emergency landing at Changi Airport – Flight SK751 forced to turn back shortly after take-off
It was a tense morning on Thursday when an SAS flight, SK751, was forced to turn back to Changi Airport just minutes after taking off. The aircraft, which was headed for a European destination, experienced technical issues, leading the crew to make the quick 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 climbing when there was this really loud bang and the whole cabin shook for a few seconds. You just knew immediately something was seriously wrong, said one passenger who was on board.
The atmosphere on board was described as tense but calm. The cabin crew acted fast, informing everyone that they would be heading back to Changi.
What happened – minute by minute
- 8.35 am: Plane takes off from runway 01L at Changi Airport.
- 8.47 am: Pilots report technical issues and request immediate return.
- 8.52 am: Plane lines up for approach back to Changi.
- 8.58 am: 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 precaution. The aircraft, an Airbus A320neo, is designed to handle exactly these kinds of situations.
Changi Airport back to normal operations
For a short while, one runway was closed to ensure the emergency landing could be carried out safely. This caused some delays to a handful of departures, but by around 10 am, flight operations at Changi were back to normal. Airport authorities have confirmed that an investigation into the cause is now underway, in collaboration with SAS and the aircraft manufacturer.
A strange coincidence with the flight number 751
For many aviation enthusiasts, the flight number SK751 stirs up memories. It was the same number as back 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 crash – an event that went down in history as the “Gottröra miracle”. The fact that flight SK751 once again found itself in trouble feels rather fateful, but this time, it wasn't as serious.
– Of course, it crosses your mind. But I'm just thankful we're back on solid ground and everyone's alright, the passenger said.
A police report has been filed regarding the aviation incident, but for now, there is no suspicion of any crime. The investigation is focusing solely on the technical circumstances.