Brussels-Bucharest flight canceled on Thursday for technical reasons, NATO deputy leader Geoana, Romanian FM Odobescu on board

The Tarom flight from Brussels, which was supposed to arrive in Bucharest on Thursday evening and which was canceled for technical reasons, will return to the Capital on Friday, the company announces.

According to it, following the inspection carried out by a team from Brussels airport, “a malfunction” was identified, and the 93 passengers were offered “assistance options specific to European standards”. Among the passengers on board were NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană, Foreign Minister Luminiţa Odobescu and several MEPs.

In a statement issued on Friday, Tarom says that the crew of the Boeing 737-800 BGL aircraft decided to stop takeoff as a technical problem was identified and that, in accordance with safety protocols, the presence of fire engines on the plane was requested.

“Passengers and crew were kept safe at all times. They were disembarked and the local TAROM team offered assistance to the travelers. The aircraft was subjected to a thorough technical inspection by the specialized technical team at Brussels airport, and a malfunction was identified. After completing all the necessary procedures, the aircraft will return to Bucharest on April 5, 2024, for the resumption of flights provided in the operating schedule. Under these conditions, with the interruption of take-off for technical reasons and, respectively, the cancellation of the flight, the passengers were offered the assistance options specific to the European rules applicable in such cases”, says Tarom.

The aircraft is the one named “Alexandru Ioan Cuza”, a Boeing 737-800 NG that entered the Tarom fleet in 2018. Mainstream media states that among the 93 passengers on board are Mircea Geoană, Foreign Minister Luminiţa Odobescu and MEPs Gheorghe Falcă, Daniel Buda and Mircea Hava.