On Saturday evening, December 28, 2024, a KLM flight making its way from Oslo to Amsterdam was forced to make an emergency landing at Torp Airport due to reported hydraulic failure. The aircraft, a Boeing 737 carrying 182 passengers and crew, executed the emergency procedure safely, yet it skidded off the runway and ended up partially blocking it. This unfortunate incident has resulted in significant disruption at the airport, impacting approximately 5000 travelers.
Tine Kleive-Mathisen, the Communication Manager at Torp Airport, confirmed the situation early Sunday morning, stating, "Det er en hektisk dag med veldig fulle fly, så mange passasjerer vil bli rammet av dette" (It's a hectic day with very full flights, so many passengers will be affected by this). Her remarks set the tone for the chaos ensuing at the airport, as flights were canceled and travelers scrambled for new arrangements.
The emergency landing occurred at around 19:15 local time, with the pilot reporting unusual noises from the aircraft before the incident. According to air traffic communication, the pilots faced difficulty controlling the plane during landing after observing smoke emanate from the left engine. Thankfully, there were no injuries among the passengers or crew, but the plane’s position obstructed any inbound or outbound flights.
"Vi må dessverre holde rullebanen stengt inntil klokken 18 i dag" (We unfortunately have to keep the runway closed until 18:00 today), Kleive-Mathisen stated, emphasizing the extensive process required to relocate the stranded aircraft and restore normal operations. She described the operation as complicated, requiring specialized equipment to move the roughly 50-ton plane.
The situation at Torp Airport rapidly escalated as the delays became evident. Kleive-Mathisen informed travelers of the extent of the problem, mentioning, "Det var planlagt mange, fulle fly som skulle både lande og lette" (There were many full flights scheduled to both land and take off). The closure of the runway led to the cancellation of multiple flights, stranding thousands during the busy holiday season.
Passengers shared their frustrations. Celina Solstad Høvik, who was on board the flight, described the experience as "ganske skummelt" (quite scary). She recounted the atmosphere leading up to the emergency landing and expressed her gratitude for the flight crew's competent handling of the situation.
Meanwhile, passengers such as Bjørn Richard Pedersen, who was connecting through Gdansk to return home, found themselves needing to adapt their travel plans as well. They were rebooked onto another flight headed to Gardermoen, illustrating the ripple effect of the incident on holiday travelers.
While the KLM flight remained on the grass beside the runway, there were concerted efforts by various agencies, including police and the Norwegian Accident Investigation Board, to manage the recovery process. The police had completed their initial investigations and handed over control to the airport and KLM, which is now cooperating with authorities to determine the cause of the hydraulic failure.
"Det er sjelden vi opplever en nødlanding som denne," (It's rare we experience an emergency landing like this), Kleive-Mathisen stated, reflecting on the airport's procedures for such situations. With safety as the priority, the airport management has developed contingency plans to deal with emergencies effectively.
Going forward, updates on the reopening of the airport will be communicated directly to affected passengers via text from the respective airlines. With the runway expected to potentially reopen by Sunday evening, passengers remained hopeful for resuming normal air traffic.
Authorities announced they would be thoroughly examining the incident and expected to release findings once investigations were complete. The prominence of passenger safety continues to be the utmost concern, as officials assess how they can avoid such occurrences in the future.
This incident highlights the complex dynamics of air travel safety, especially during high-traffic periods. The collaborative efforts of airline staff, local authorities, and safety investigation agencies reflect the significance of effectively managing air traffic disruptions to minimize passenger impact. With thousands affected, this will remain a pivotal incident for both KLM Airlines and Torp Airport as they navigate the repercussions.