Incident Leads to Runway Closure at Luxembourg Airport
Luxembourg Airport's operations were significantly disrupted on the evening of Thursday, November 13, 2025, when a light aircraft experienced an accident during its landing, leading to the temporary closure of the airport's main runway. The incident, which occurred around 7:00 PM local time, resulted in minor injuries to the two individuals on board and caused widespread flight delays and cancellations.
Details of the Accident
The accident involved a privately owned light aircraft registered in Belgium, identified by some sources as a Diamond DA42 with registration OO-ELF. Reports indicate that the aircraft encountered issues with its landing gear, causing it to touch down on its underside and skid approximately 500 meters along the runway before coming to a halt. Additionally, police reports suggested the pilot may have become unwell during the flight. The two occupants of the aircraft received immediate medical attention and were transported to a hospital for check-ups, where their injuries were confirmed to be minor and not alarming.
Operational Impact and Recovery Efforts
Following the incident, the runway at Luxembourg Airport was immediately closed to ensure safety and facilitate emergency response. This closure lasted for approximately four hours, with the runway officially reopening for safe air traffic at 11:07 PM (23:07) on the same evening. The extensive cleanup and investigation process involved the Grand Ducal Police, the Administration of Technical Investigations (AET), and the Grand Ducal Fire and Rescue Corps (CGDIS). Lux-Airport confirmed that the runway sustained no damage and was deemed safe for continued operations after thorough inspection.
Flight Disruptions and Passenger Communication
The temporary runway closure had a considerable impact on scheduled flights. Lux-Airport reported 14 flight cancellations and 6 reschedules, affecting over 1,100 Luxair passengers. Several inbound flights were diverted to alternative airports, including Brussels and Saarbrücken. Luxair alone experienced seven delayed flights and four cancelled departures. The Director of Operations for Luxair, Daniel Colling, estimated the financial impact of the incident to be up to 100,000 euros, noting that EU-261 regulations did not apply due to the nature of the event being a force majeure. Lux-Airport maintained communication with passengers through terminal announcements, screen messages, its website, and social media channels, also providing free water in the terminal.
5 Comments
ZmeeLove
The system worked as it should; an incident handled professionally with minimal damage.
Matzomaster
It's good that Lux-Airport communicated with passengers and offered amenities during the disruption. Yet, for those with cancelled or diverted flights, the impact was still significant, and the 'force majeure' ruling likely adds to their frustration.
Karamba
While it's positive that injuries were minor and the runway reopened swiftly, the sheer number of affected passengers highlights a vulnerability in airport operations. Better contingency plans for diversions seem necessary.
Katchuka
Remarkable that the runway had no damage after such an event. Well done to the inspection teams.
Muchacha
A 100,000 euro financial hit for Luxair is significant. This incident was costly.