TUIfly B738 at Frankfurt on Oct 18th 2023, rejected takeoff

Last Update: January 27, 2026 / 16:15:20 GMT/Zulu time

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Incident Facts

Date of incident
Oct 18, 2023

Classification
Incident

Cause
Rejected takeoff

Airline
TUIFly

Flight number
X3-4262

Departure
Frankfurt/Main, Germany

Destination
Rhodes, Greece

Aircraft Registration
D-ABKM

Aircraft Type
Boeing 737-800

ICAO Type Designator
B738

Airport
Frankfurt am Main International Airport, Frankfurt-am-Main

Airport ICAO Code
EDDF

A TUIfly Boeing 737-800, registration D-ABKM performing flight X3-4262 from Frankfurt/Main (Germany) to Rhodes (Greece), was accelerating for takeoff from Frankfurt's runway 18 when the crew rejected takeoff at about 80 knots over ground at 05:21L (03:21Z). The aircraft slowed safely and stopped on the runway. The runway was closed until about 11:00L (09:00Z).

A passenger on an aircraft arriving into Frankfurt's runway 07R took photos of the scene about 3 hours after the occurrence with emergency services still around the aircraft.

Germany's DFS reported the pilot reported they aborted takeoff, subsequently there was tyre debris and pieces of plastics on the runway necessitating a cleaning of the runway, which was the reason the aircraft could not vacate the runway.

On Jan 27th 2026 Germany's BFU released their final report concluding the probable causes of the incident were:

The aircraft taxied from the parking position to runway 18 in Frankfurt/Main. Tire marks that could be attributed to the aircraft were discovered on the taxiway. During the takeoff run, the flight crew noticed exposed damage and the aircraft tilting to the right. They decided to abort the take-off run at a speed of 88 kt IAS.

The investigation of the occurrence revealed the following significant item:

- Tire no. 3 had too little pressure and carried only a low load capacity of the aircraft.

- As a result, tire no. 4 bore the entire load of the right main landing gear and was also damaged. There was already a high probability of pre-damage to the structural integrity of the tire, for example as a result of material fatigue, internal tissue fractures or delamination within the carcass. These impairments could have significantly reduced the mechanical strength and operational safety of the tire.

The BFU analysed:

Based on the damage pattern found on runway 18, it can be assumed that the damage to tire no. 3 occurred before the aborted take-off and that the damage to tire no. 4 was caused by the aborted take-off, FOD or overload. An undamaged main landing gear tire is designed to bear the intended load in accordance with the aircraft manufacturer's specifications. However, it is acknowledged that a tire with impaired structural integrity may not be able to carry this load properly. Furthermore, it cannot be ruled out that the damage was caused by the impact of a FOD. Such foreign objects can cause damage to the tires or other aircraft components. In this case, there is no clear indication that a FOD is definitely responsible for the damage, but it is a possible cause that needs to be considered. On the basis of numerous other accident investigations, among other things of the accident of an Air France Concorde13 from 25.07.2000, the probability exists. The cause of the damage to the tire no. 4 cannot be finally clarified.

The airline had not specified in its documentation of procedures for pilots that a takeoff run should be aborted at speeds above 80 kt IAS due to tire damage. Nevertheless, the flight crew had decided to abort the take-off at 88 kt IAS. The flight crew had followed the manufacturer's and airline's procedures for aborting take-off and subsequently evacuating the passengers in a controlled manner.

Related NOTAMs:
A5407/23 NOTAMR A5405/23
Q) EDGG/QMRLC/IV/NBO/A /000/999/5002N00834E005
A) EDDF B) 2310180748 C) 2310180900
E) RWY 18 CLSD.

A5405/23 NOTAMN
Q) EDGG/QMRLC/IV/NBO/A /000/999/5002N00834E005
A) EDDF B) 2310180550 C) 2310180800 EST
E) RWY 18 CLSD.

Metars:
EDDF 180450Z AUTO 03012KT CAVOK 05/01 Q1012 NOSIG=
EDDF 180420Z AUTO 04010KT CAVOK 04/01 Q1013=
EDDF 180350Z AUTO 03008KT CAVOK 04/01 Q1013 NOSIG=
EDDF 180320Z AUTO 02008KT CAVOK 05/01 Q1013 NOSIG=
EDDF 180250Z AUTO 02010KT CAVOK 05/02 Q1014 NOSIG=
EDDF 180220Z AUTO 02010KT CAVOK 05/02 Q1014 NOSIG=
EDDF 180150Z AUTO 02010KT CAVOK 05/02 Q1014 NOSIG=
EDDF 180120Z AUTO 02009KT CAVOK 05/02 Q1014 NOSIG=
EDDF 180050Z AUTO 02008KT CAVOK 04/01 Q1015 NOSIG=
EDDF 180020Z AUTO 02008KT CAVOK 04/02 Q1015 NOSIG=
EDDF 172350Z AUTO 05004KT 020V090 CAVOK 04/01 Q1015 NOSIG=
EDDF 172320Z AUTO 04005KT CAVOK 05/01 Q1015 NOSIG=
EDDF 172250Z AUTO 02007KT CAVOK 06/02 Q1015 NOSIG=
EDDF 172220Z AUTO 02007KT CAVOK 06/02 Q1015 NOSIG=