An Air Baltic plane slid off the runway after landing on a snowy runway in Latvia. One passenger, who was filming the landing, found the incident quite humorous and couldn’t resist a healthy chortle as the incident unfolded. The 44 passengers were uninjured and the airport was later closed for a day due to heavy snowfall.
According to reporting by Aviation Herald, Air Baltic Flight BT102, a Bombardier CS-300 bound for Latvia’s Riga Airport (RIX) slipped off a snow-covered runway after landing on December 3rd.
The flight, which originated from Stockholm’s Arlanda (ARN) airport, contained 44 passengers, one of whom happened to film the incident as the plane was landing. As the lightly filled plane skidded off the runway, the man took the incident in stride with a healthy chortle as if he was on a roller coaster.
Passengers were safely evacuated from the plane onto the snowy tarmac.
Riga Airport later closed the airport due to the heavy snowfall, issuing this statement:
“Due to snowfall, the runway of Riga Airport will be closed until 4 December, 6 a.m. Passengers are encouraged to contact their airlines for further action, accommodation and other services provided by airlines in this situation. We kindly ask passengers who are able to do so, to go home or to their place of accommodation. The heavy snowfall also affects the movement of transport, including public transport to and from the Airport. It has been snowing heavily in Latvia for a long time today, creating a difficult situation for all modes of transport. Due to passenger and flight safety considerations, a decision was made tonight to close the aerodrome until it can be restored to safe operation.”
Riga Aiport Official Statement
The region has been beset by heavy snowfall over the past few days, so severe that a “red warning” was issued for intense snowfall.
“Latvian State Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre explains that snow clouds will continue forming above the Gulf of Riga, bringing intense snowfall with them. Considering that intense snowing is expected to continue. Visibility during snowfall may drop below 500 m.”
Latvian State Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre
The airport, which has since reopened, remains heavy hit by snowfall.
2 comments
The Bombardier CS-300 and Airbus A220-300 are the same plane. After Airbus bought the program from Bomardier, they re-branded it.
LOL..you’d think I’d know that too given I used to work for Airbus. Fixed and thanks for the reminder.