Condor Flight Delayed Four Hours After Rejected Takeoff Due To Error

On June 18th, the crew of a Condor Airbus A320 performed a rejected takeoff at high speed due to issues with airspeed instruments disagreeing with each other. The flight, DE1606, which would have taken travelers from Munich to Mykonos, was delayed by four hours.

The aircraft involved in the incident was D-AICE, which is pictured here. The Airbus A320 is almost 23 years old. Photo: Alan Wilson via Wikimedia Commons 

High speed rejected takeoff

On June 18th, Condor’s flight DE1606 was looking to depart at its scheduled time, just after 06:10 in the morning. This early morning flight was headed to the Greek island of Mykonos from Munich, Germany.

However, as the Airbus A320-200 headed down the runway for takeoff, the crew noticed that airspeed indications were disagreeing with each other. Making the quick decision not to continue the flight, the crew rejected the takeoff. According to The Aviation Herald, this was performed at high speed, estimated to be about 100 knots (185km/h or 115mph).

As the aircraft was on Munich’s runway 08L, the small jet slowed safely to leave the runway using high-speed exit A5. Located roughly 1,300 meters (4,350 feet) down runway 08L, this was the first exit available to the aircraft. Exits A8, A10, and A12 located further down would also have been options.

D-AICE previously flew under the Condor Berlin and Thomas Cook Airlines brands. However, since 2004 it has flown for Condor. Photo: Anna Zvereva via Wikimedia Commons 

A four-hour delay for passengers

Considering how early the original flight was, with the additional time needed to get to the airport, we can imagine the aircraft’s passengers would have been extra irritated with the inconvenience.

Working hard to get the flight’s passengers on their way, Condor repositioned an Airbus A321-200 from Frankfurt/Main. With the repositioning flight itself taking an hour, the total ordeal saw the flight to Mykonos delayed by about four hours.

At least the passengers would have had extra space in the larger A321. Condor’s A321s are configured with 210 or 220 seats, meaning 30 to 40 additional seats would have been empty, assuming no additional passengers were taken.

The Airbus A320 involved was subsequently replaced with the larger A321, flown in from Frankfurt. Photo: RadarBox.com

About the incident aircraft

The Airbus A320-200 involved in the incident registered D-AICE has spent nearly two days on the ground. However, FlightRadar24.com data notes that the aircraft is scheduled to operate five flights today: A round trip between Munich and Zakynthos (Greece), followed by a triangle route from Munich to Kavala and Samos.

Before the incident on June 18th, D-AICE had been flying quite regularly since late February. Out of cities like Hamburg and Dusseldorf, the aircraft frequently made trips to Las Palmas, Fuerteventura, Heraklion, and other leisure spots around the Mediterranean.

The nearly 28-year-old jet first flew for Condor Berlin in 1998 before operating services under the Thomas Cook Airlines brand from 2002 to 2004. Since 2004, however, the jet has flown as Condor, configured with 180 seats.

Have you ever experienced a rejected takeoff? Share your stories by leaving a comment.



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