Evacuation After Aborted Takeoff in Zurich – United Flight Stopped

The aborted takeoff occurred at a speed at which many aircraft are already airborne – leading to a spectacular evacuation at Zurich Airport.

A United Airlines Boeing 767 bound for Chicago had to abort takeoff on runway 16/34 in Zurich shortly after 10 a.m. on June 24, 2025. There were 142 people on board. According to flight data, the aircraft reached a speed of 264 km/h before abruptly braking – a speed at which aircraft of this type usually take off.

Why the takeoff was stopped is still unclear. The airport fire brigade was deployed to cool overheated brakes after several tires burst – a common phenomenon in aborted takeoffs of this kind. As a result, the runway remained blocked for an extended period. Takeoff traffic was temporarily redirected over runway 32 towards Höri.

According to recorded radio communication, the pilot initially requested to taxi the aircraft to a safe location to complete the checklist. However, the tower instructed her to hold position as rescue forces were already on their way. Shortly thereafter, the aircraft was evacuated. All passengers were brought back to the terminal.

Later, the pilot confirmed that all systems were functioning normally. Nevertheless, following the tower's instructions, the engines were completely shut down, preparing for the evacuation.

The incident also impacted ongoing air traffic. Due to the blocked runway, there were delays. Zurich Airport reported that there were no injuries.

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