Riga runway closed after airBaltic plane slides off runway during snow

An airBaltic plane has skidded off the runway at Riga airport (RIX) in Latvia during a landing in heavy snowfall.  

The incident occurred on December 3, 2021. The aircraft, an Airbus A220-300 with registration YL-CSE, was operating flight BT102 from Stockholm, Sweden (ARN) to RIX.  

Edgars Rinkēvičs, Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs, posted pictures of the incident on Twitter.  

Neaizmirstama nedēļa: atgriežoties Rīgā, Stokholmas lidmašīna noslīdēja no skrejceļa. Paldies @airBaltic apkalpei, lidostai, ugunsdzēsējiem un NMPD par ātru rīcību, mieru un profesionalitāti! Cik saprotu, tad nekas nopietns nevienam nav atgadījies pic.twitter.com/sbuY9tKnOg

— Edgars Rinkēvičs (@edgarsrinkevics) December 3, 2021

“There were no injuries, and all 44 passengers were safely transported to the terminal and the aircraft will be towed to the hangar for inspection,” airBaltic announced in a social media post.  

The Latvian airline said it was working closely with authorities and will provide an update later.  

airBaltic on flight BT102: pic.twitter.com/mm2Mj8RuTX

— airBaltic (@airBaltic) December 3, 2021

Riga Airport has closed runway 18/36 as a result of the incident. A SNOWTAM provided by the airport for flight crews warns of snow banks on the taxiways and describes the condition of the taxiways and aprons as “poor”.  

The airport said via social media that poor visibility played a role in the accident.  

Lidostā “Rīga” noticis aviācijas negadījums, @airBaltic gaisa kuģim, kas atgriezās Rīgā no Stokholmas, sliktas redzamības dēļ nobraucot no manevrēšanas ceļa. Lidostas skrejceļš pašlaik ir slēgts. Lidostas atbildīgie dienesti un aviokompānijas pārstāvji strādā notikuma vietā.

— Riga Airport (@riga_airport) December 3, 2021