Flight OU412 A220 Veers Off Split Runway at High Speed

A Croatia Airlines Airbus A220 experienced a significant incident on May 16, 2026, after it veered off the runway during a high-speed rejected takeoff at Split Airport (SPU). The flight, OU412, bound for Frankfurt, was accelerating for departure when the crew aborted the takeoff at a speed between 123 and 131 knots. The aircraft subsequently exited the paved surface of Runway 23, striking infrastructure before coming to a stop.

All 132 passengers and 5 crew members evacuated the aircraft without injury, a critical success for the flight and cabin crew. The incident involves one of the airline's newest airframes, an Airbus A220-300 registered as 9A-CAN, which was delivered just 11 months prior. The event triggers an immediate investigation and poses operational challenges for the carrier as it undergoes a major fleet modernization.

Incident Details and Immediate Aftermath

According to data from FlightRadar24, the Rejected Takeoff (RTO) was initiated as the aircraft approached its rotation speed. During the takeoff roll, the A220 experienced an uncommanded yaw to the left, causing it to depart the runway surface. Before coming to a halt in the grass, the aircraft struck a runway marker board and several edge lights, sustaining damage to one of its Pratt & Whitney PW1500G engine cowlings.

Emergency services responded promptly, and passengers were deplaned using regular stairs. Mate Melvan, Head of Passenger Handling at Split Airport, confirmed the aircraft veered off the runway and hit signage, with the cause pending a formal inquiry. The runway was temporarily closed for inspection and to facilitate the removal of the aircraft and repair of damaged lighting, causing minor disruptions to other flights.

The investigation will be led by the Croatian Air Accident Investigation Agency (AIN), following the international protocols outlined in Annex 13. The focus will be on determining the cause of the sudden directional control issue, with investigators expected to analyze the flight data recorder, cockpit voice recorder, and physical evidence from the aircraft's steering and braking systems.

Fleet and Operational Impact

The incident has a significant impact on Croatia Airlines Operations, as the aircraft involved is a cornerstone of its strategic fleet renewal. Davor Mišić, the airline's Director of Traffic, highlighted that the A220 was only 11 months old and had accumulated fewer than 2,000 flight hours. Croatia Airlines is in the process of replacing its older Airbus A320-family and Dash 8 aircraft with a fleet of 15 new A220s by 2027, a move intended to reduce fuel burn by up to 25%. More information on the airline's fleet can be found on the Croatia Airlines Official Website.

The loss of this airframe, even temporarily, complicates scheduling during the approaching peak summer travel season. For Split Airport, the incident required immediate repairs to essential runway infrastructure. The event also draws attention to Pratt & Whitney, the engine manufacturer, whose PW1500G engine will undergo a thorough inspection to assess the impact damage and rule out any engine-related contribution to the uncommanded yaw.

Investigation and Historical Context

While the AIN's official investigation is just beginning, the circumstances share similarities with other recent runway excursions. In June 2025, a JetBlue Airbus A220-300 experienced a runway excursion in Boston, with a suspected nose wheel steering failure cited as a potential cause. This precedent involving the same aircraft type will likely be a key reference point for investigators.

Another recent event, an Easyjet Europe A320 excursion at London Southend in May 2025, also involved an Airbus narrowbody veering onto the grass during takeoff, though at a lower speed. Aviation commentators analyzing video of the Croatia Airlines incident have speculated that potential causes for the sudden yaw could include an asymmetric engine thrust issue, a malfunction in the left main gear braking system, or a failure in the nose wheel steering mechanism.

Technical Analysis

This high-speed runway excursion places the ground-handling and system reliability of the Airbus A220 family under scrutiny. As a fly-by-wire aircraft, its control systems are highly complex, and the investigation will meticulously trace the sequence of events that led to the loss of directional control. The fact that a similar incident occurred with another A220 less than a year prior may suggest a pattern that warrants a broader review by the manufacturer and regulators.

For Croatia Airlines, the event is a setback to its otherwise smooth fleet modernization program. The A220 is critical to its strategy for enhanced efficiency and network expansion. A prolonged grounding of 9A-CAN for repairs could force the airline to seek short-term ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance) leases to cover its summer schedule, adding unplanned costs and operational complexity. The outcome of the investigation will be crucial in determining if procedural or technical changes are needed for the global A220 fleet.

A220-300 vs. A220-100: Key Specifications

What Comes Next

The immediate future will be dominated by the formal investigation. The Croatian Air Accident Investigation Agency (AIN) is expected to release a preliminary report on the incident by mid-June 2026. This initial document will outline the known facts of the case but will likely not assign a definitive cause.

The timeline for the aircraft's repair and return to service remains uncertain. While industry sources have suggested a possible return in the third or fourth quarter of 2026, this is contingent on the extent of the damage and subject to recertification by aviation authorities.

Why This Matters

While the safe evacuation of all 137 people is the most important outcome, this incident raises critical questions about a new-generation aircraft central to the fleet strategies of numerous global airlines. The investigation's findings will be closely watched by operators, regulators, and the manufacturer to determine if the uncommanded yaw points to an isolated component failure or a more systemic issue with the Airbus A220. For the industry, it serves as a reminder of the inherent risks in the critical takeoff phase of flight.