Emergency Declared: Ryanair Flight FR4523 Squawks 7700 Following Aborted Landing at Charleroi
BRUSSELS — A Ryanair flight arriving from Italy declared a mid-air emergency this morning after a failed landing attempt at Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL) led to a period of significant regional airspace disruption.
The Incident Timeline
Flight FR4523, operated by a Boeing 737-800 (registration EI-GXK), departed Milan Bergamo Airport (BGY) at 08:32 CEST. The flight proceeded normally for the majority of its 90-minute journey across Europe.
Trouble began during the final approach to Charleroi’s Runway 24. At approximately 10:00 CEST, the flight crew performed a go-around—an aviation maneuver where an aircraft aborts its landing and climbs back to a safe altitude.
Escalation to Emergency Status
Following the aborted landing, the aircraft entered a holding pattern. Shortly thereafter, the crew “squawked” 7700, the international transponder code indicating a general emergency.
While the specific nature of the emergency remains unconfirmed by Ryanair, the declaration grants the aircraft priority handling from Air Traffic Control (ATC). During this period, several other inbound flights to Charleroi were placed in holding patterns, though authorities have not yet specified if this was due to the emergency aircraft or an underlying issue at the airport itself.
Current Status
- After 3 fly pasts over runway, Ryanair flight FR4523 is now on final approach.
- Touch down on runway 24 at 10:15 CEST
- The Boeing 737-800 is vacating the runway, escorted by firetrucks.
- The aircraft is being inspected, other flights still on hold.
- Now taxiing to the gate.
- Traffic is resuming.
