There are no indications suggesting that the LOT aircraft skidded off the runway at Vilnius Airport on Wednesday due to weather conditions, Lithuanian Transport Minister Juras Taminskas told reporters. Vilnius is currently experiencing harsh winter weather. The reopening of the airport has been postponed until 10:00 p.m. local time (9:00 p.m. Polish time).
The Runway Had Been Cleared
The minister stressed that the causes of the incident are being investigated: “The investigation will answer that question.”
Simonas Bartkus, Director of Lithuanian Airports (LTOU), ruled out the possibility that the runway had been improperly cleared.
“Flights were operating throughout the day; numerous aircraft were taking off and landing, and runway maintenance is carried out continuously (…). According to the information we have, all necessary measures were taken to keep the runway in good condition,” Bartkus assured reporters.
What Happened?
According to Bartkus, the LOT aircraft landed from the southern direction, rolled to the end of the main runway, and while turning onto a taxiway, veered off by several meters.
“Because the aircraft is too close to the runway, we cannot resume operations until it is removed (…). The plane is standing right next to the runway, on a grassy area,” the LTOU director explained.
At 1:43 p.m. on Wednesday, a LOT aircraft arriving from Warsaw — flight LO771 — skidded off the runway while taxiing toward the parking apron. The Embraer E170STD landed in Vilnius after departing from Warsaw Chopin Airport. According to the LOT spokesperson, there were 63 passengers on board; all disembarked safely.
“No passengers were injured. The circumstances of the incident are being clarified,” the Lithuanian Airports authority said in a statement.
Shortly after the incident, the Emergency Situations Commission of Lithuanian Airports convened a meeting with the participation of Transport Minister Juras Taminskas, representatives of the Justice Ministry, and LTOU leadership.
Flights bound for Vilnius are being diverted to other airports.