Despite the green centerline lights and yellow centerline marking, the flight crew of a Transavia Boeing 737-800 failed to recognize that they were on a taxiway, not a runway, at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol when they began a takeoff roll, accident investigators say. Air traffic controllers saw the 737 accelerate for the nighttime takeoff and told the crew to stop immediately.
The pilots rejected the takeoff and taxied to their assigned runway for an uneventful takeoff for the Sept. 6, 2019, flight to Chania, Greece.
No one was injured in the serious incident, and there was no damage.
The Dutch Safety Board, in its final report on the occurrence, said the causes of the serious incident included the flight crew’s misinterpretation of taxiway markings and environmental cues.
“Cues such as the yellow, thin and continuous centre line marking and green centre line lights, were not recognised by the flight crew as cues of being on a taxiway,” the report said. “Environmental…
