Iberia A320 disabled on Split runway after nose landing gear failure

An Iberia Airbus A320 was immobilised on the runway at Split Airport after a nose-gear malfunction during landing, forcing the temporary closure of the airport and disrupting operations on one of the busiest weekends of the summer season.

The incident involved flight IB945 from Madrid-Barajas to Split, which landed on runway 23 at approximately 16:22 local time (14:22 UTC) on 1 August. The aircraft, an Airbus A320-214 registered EC-IZH, came to a stop on the runway after its nose landing gear was damaged during the landing sequence.

Emergency services responded immediately, and all 178 occupants—172 passengers and six crew members—were safely evacuated. No injuries were reported.

The disabled aircraft blocked the runway, leading to significant disruption to airport operations while recovery teams worked to remove it. The runway was subsequently inspected and cleared of any potential debris before reopening at approximately 18:30, just over two hours after the incident.

Photographs from the scene appear to show the nose wheels rotated to an angle of almost 90 degrees relative to the aircraft’s centreline. However, investigators have not confirmed whether this abnormal position occurred before touchdown, during the landing roll or as a result of the aircraft coming to a stop. Reports suggesting a tyre burst or loss of tyre pressure have also not been officially verified.

The Croatian Air, Maritime and Rail Transport Accident Investigation Agency has opened a formal investigation to determine the cause of the incident. Investigators will examine the condition of the nose landing gear, establish when the malfunction occurred and assess whether it was linked to any tyre or steering system failure.

The aircraft had departed Madrid at 12:06 UTC and completed a flight of approximately 2 hours and 16 minutes before the incident.