Pegasus A321 turned in wrong direction for takeoff at Frankfurt Airport

FRANKFURT — On Tuesday, October 20, after an Airbus A321-251NX operated by Turkish carrier Pegasus Airlines lined up and attempted to take off in the wrong direction. Vigilant air traffic controllers quickly spotted the mistake and alerted the crew, bringing the aircraft safely to a halt.

The aircraft (registration TC-RDO), operating flight PC996 bound for Istanbul’s Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, had entered Runway 18 West. Operating procedures at Frankfurt Airport designate Runway 18 strictly for southbound departures, as the opposing direction (Runway 36) is restricted due to the rising terrain of the nearby Taunus mountain range.

According to flight data and reports, the Airbus A321neo possibly commenced its takeoff roll heading north when air traffic control (ATC) intervened. The controller promptly radioed the pilots, advising them of the navigational error. The crew initiated a rejected takeoff at a low groundspeed of approximately 35 knots (40 mph).

No injuries or damage were reported. Following the instruction and a brief delay to reposition the aircraft, the flight departed without further incident roughly seven minutes later and completed its trip to Istanbul safely.

DFS (Deutsche Flugsicherung), Germany’s air navigation service provider, confirmed the occurrence and stated that the incident has been formally reported to the responsible authorities. Germany’s Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation (Bundesstelle für Flugunfalluntersuchung, BFU) will evaluate the report to determine if a full formal investigation will be opened into how the lineup error occurred.

Lineup checks and runway position verifications are standard aviation protocols intended to ensure aircraft headings match assigned runway designations prior to applying takeoff thrust. Investigators will likely examine cockpit communication, taxiway markings, and crew procedures to understand how the aircraft was turned in the opposite direction before ATC stepped in.

Pegasus Airlines statement on flight PC996, Frankfurt Airport, 20 October 2026

On 20 October 2026, Pegasus Airlines flight PC996 from Frankfurt to Istanbul stopped safely on the runway at Frankfurt Airport after turning in the wrong direction on entering it. There was no attempt to take off. The crew identified the error and, in coordination with air traffic control, vacated the runway before re-entering it and departing safely.

A turn in the wrong direction on entering the runway is not an attempted take-off in the wrong direction. Reports that a take-off was attempted and that this was prevented by the control tower are inaccurate.

The event has been reported in line with standard safety procedures and is under review. Nothing is more important to Pegasus than the safety of our guests and crew.

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