SAS Flight 751 Makes Emergency Landing at Arlanda Minutes After Takeoff
Drama unfolded in the skies over Stockholm Thursday morning when an SAS plane, Flight 751, was forced to return to Arlanda just minutes after departure. The aircraft, which was headed to a European destination, experienced technical issues, prompting the crew to immediately turn back for an emergency landing.
"There was a loud bang and the whole plane shook"
"We had just settled in and the plane started to climb. Then there was this really loud bang, and the whole cabin shook for a few seconds. You could immediately tell something was seriously wrong," said a passenger who was on board.
The atmosphere inside the cabin was described as tense but calm. Flight attendants acted quickly, informing everyone that they would be returning to Arlanda.
Timeline of events – minute by minute
- 8:35 a.m.: The plane departs from runway 01L at Arlanda.
- 8:47 a.m.: Pilots report technical problems and request an immediate return.
- 8:52 a.m.: The aircraft lines up for its approach back to Arlanda.
- 8:58 a.m.: The emergency landing is carried out without further incident. All 167 passengers and crew are unharmed.
- 9:05 a.m.: Emergency services and ambulances are on the scene, but no medical attention is required.
According to reports, a technical issue led the pilots to shut down one engine as a pure safety precaution. The aircraft, an Airbus A320neo, is specifically designed to handle such situations.
Arlanda operations back to normal
One runway was briefly closed to ensure the emergency landing could be conducted safely. This impacted a handful of departures, but by around 10:00 a.m., 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 striking coincidence with flight number 751
For many aviation enthusiasts, the flight number 751 evokes memories. It was the same number as on December 27, 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 "Miracle of Gottröra." The fact that Flight 751 once again found itself in peril feels laden with destiny, but this time, the worst was avoided.
"Of course, it crosses your mind. But I'm just grateful we're on solid ground and everyone is okay," the passenger added.
A report regarding the aviation incident has been filed with the police, but at this stage, there is no suspicion of any crime. The investigation is focusing entirely on the technical circumstances.