Latvian-based airBaltic has advised that flight BT694, traveling from Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) to Riga International Airport (RIX), has had the nose wheel slide off the runway in an attempt at landing in heavy snow conditions.The aircraft, an Airbus A220, YL-AAP involved in the incident, was carrying 89 passengers, with seven crew onboard. There are no current reports of injury.

Runway closed for an hour.

As reported by Riga Airport on Twitter, the responsible services have escorted passengers to the terminal. The runway is closed for an hour as the airline and airport authorities inspect the aircraft and runway for damage.

BT694

Operated by the airline's Airbus A220-300, registration YL-AAP was delivered from Montreal in March 2019. The aircraft is leased from Aviation PLC.

Flight BT694, with an original departure time of 18:40, departed 59 minutes behind schedule from Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) at 19:39. The flight was scheduled to touchdown at 22:25. Flightradar24.com advises that the aircraft was touching down in Riga by 22:34 local time.

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Delayed flights this evening

With the runway closed, passengers due to depart/arrive shortly are advised to speak with their airline about alternative arrangements if required. According to the Riga Airport website, multiple flights have been affected:

• FR1136, bound for London Stansted (STN), originally departing at 22:15, is delayed until 03:00
• BT791, bound for Dubai International (DXB), originally departing at 23:10, is delayed until 02:00
• BT325, bound for Helsinki (HEL), originally departing at 23:20, is delayed until 02:00
• BT349, bound for Vilnius (VNO), originally departing at 23:25, is delayed until 02:00
• BT361, bound for Tallinn (TLL), originally departing at 23:25, is delayed until 02:00
• BT359, bound for Turku (TKU), originally departing at 23:30, is delayed until 02:00
• BT375, bound for Palanga (PLQ), originally departing at 23:30, is delayed until 02:00

LH892 diverted

LH892, an Airbus A320 operated by Lufthansa from Frankfurt (FRA) to Riga (RIX), has been diverted to Vilnius (VNO). The flight, scheduled to depart at 21:45 and eventually took off at 22:21, was diverted inflight while over western Latvia, landing at Vilnius International Airport at 01:31 local time.

Flightradar24.com reports that the flight will continue onto Riga, departing from Vilnius at 02:25 and arriving at 03:00. Its return flight, LH893, is still scheduled to depart from Riga back to Frankfurt at 06:05.

A similar occurrence in 2021.

As reported by SimpleFlying in December 2021, BT102, a flight from Stockholm (ARN) to Riga (RIX), also slid off the runway in heavy snow. No one was injured onboard.

Sources: Twitter, Flightradar24.com

• 

  Riga International Airport

  IATA/ICAO Code:

  RIX/EVRA

  Country:

  Latvia

  Passenger Count :

  7,798,382 (2019)

  Runways :

  18/36 - 3,200m (10,498ft)

  Airlines:

  airBaltic