Air Serbia Flight 324

On 18 February 2024, Air Serbia Flight 324, an Embraer E195 operated by Marathon Airlines on behalf of Air Serbia, scheduled to fly from Belgrade to Düsseldorf overran the runway while taking off, subsequently striking multiple ground structures before climbing and returning to the airport. None of the 111 people on board the aircraft were injured. The aircraft was written off.^[1][2]

Air Serbia Flight 324

OY-GDC, the aircraft involved in the accident
Accident
Date	18 February 2024 (2024-02-18)
Summary	Runway overrun on takeoff
Site	Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport, Belgrade, Serbia 44°49′39.8″N 20°17′18.5″E
Aircraft
Aircraft type	Embraer E195
Operator	Marathon Airlines, on behalf of Air Serbia
IATA flight No.	JU324
ICAO flight No.	ASL86C
Call sign	AIR SERBIA 86 CHARLIE
Registration	OY-GDC
Flight origin	Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport, Belgrade, Serbia
Destination	Düsseldorf Airport, Düsseldorf, Germany
Occupants	111
Passengers	105
Crew	6
Fatalities	0
Injuries	0
Survivors	111

Accident

Flight 324 was to take off from Belgrade for a 2-hour, 10-minute flight to Düsseldorf. During its takeoff run, the aircraft overran the runway and struck multiple airport approach lights and the instrument landing system before eventually becoming airborne. The aircraft suffered severe damage to its fuselage, left wing root, and left stabilizer. The plane returned to Belgrade landing safely, with no injuries reported among the 111 occupants.^[1]

Aircraft

The aircraft involved, being manufactured in 2008, was a 16 year old Embraer E195LR, registered as OY-GDC with manufacturer serial number 19000204.^[3][4][5]

Aftermath

Air Serbia

As a result of the accident, Air Serbia terminated its wet-lease agreement with Marathon Airlines on 21 February.^[6][7]

Aircraft

After the incident, the aircraft suffered significant damage and was eventually written off. Subsequently, it was confirmed that the aircraft would be scrapped and recycled for spare parts.^[2]

Investigation

According to the preliminary report from Serbia's Center for Investigation of Accidents in Transport, there were no mechanical issues with the aircraft or engines. The report indicates that air traffic control instructed the crew to proceed to the D6 taxiway intersection with Runway 30L for take-off from Runway 30L. However, the crew actually exited at the D5 intersection. Air traffic control informed the crew of this and informed them that the available runway length from D5 was 1,273 metres (4,177 ft). Air traffic control then asked if the crew would like to backtrack to the D6 intersection. The crew performed calculations and informed air traffic control that the plane could take off from the D5 position. The crew then received take-off clearance. However, as the plane accelerated past 100 knots (185 km/h; 115 mph), the crew realized that there was insufficient runway length to take off. Nevertheless, the crew did not abort the take-off. As a result, as the plane took off, it struck the approach lights to Runway 12R and the antennas for the airport's instrument landing system.^[3]