RUSSIA: Flydubai B737 Plane Halted After Attempted Take Off Without Clearance From Air Traffic Control

Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport makes the headlines again. In what could be called a severe misstep by flydubai’s pilots, on December 2, 2018, the airline’s Boeing 737-800 attempted take off without clearance from the air traffic control (ATC).

The plane was halted to avoid a possible ground collision with another incoming aircraft.

Air traffic controllers had to instruct the Dubai-bound Boeing 737-800 (registration A6-FEQ), which had not received clearance, to abort its take off roll from runway 06R at Sheremetyevo International Airport (SVO) as another arriving aircraft, an Aeroflot Airbus A330 (registration VQ-BBF), was crossing the runway at the same time.

The separation between the two planes at that point was about 2,050 meters (6,725 ft).

According to the airline, the 737, which was cleared for take-off, returned to stand for refueling and de-icing prior to proceeding to take-off for the second time in line with standard procedures and in coordination with ATC.

The jetliner eventually departed from Sheremetyevo at 08:57 local time, making it a delay of a total of 3 hours and 12 minutes.

Flydubai is aware of media reports regarding flydubai flight FZ918 from Sheremetyevo to Dubai on 02 December.

Clarification has been requested from the necessary authorities and there is an ongoing investigation, spokesperson for flydubai stated.

Russia is an important market for state-owned UAE carrier. Having started flights to Russia in 2010, Flydubai launched daily services from Sheremetyevo to Dubai International Airport (DXB) in November 2017, in addition to its service from Moscow‘s Vnukovo International Airport (VKO).

Now, Dubai is one of the key international destinations served from Sheremetyevo, the airline states.


Tourism Observer