A regional flight over Germany made an unexpected return shortly after departure on February 26th 2026, when the crew reported indications of overheating brakes during the climb.
The Danish Air Transport ATR 72-212A, operated by Danu Oro Transportas and registered SE-MDC, was performing flight DX-125 from Saarbrücken to Berlin with 18 passengers and four crew members on board.
After departing runway 27 at Saarbrücken Airport, the aircraft climbed to Flight Level 130 before the crew elected to discontinue the climb and return to the departure airport, citing brake overheating indications. As a precaution, the flight crew coordinated with air traffic control and positioned for a return.
Local emergency services reported they were alerted to an inbound aircraft with possible overheated brakes. The ATR landed safely back on runway 27 about 35 minutes after takeoff.
Following the landing, ground crews inspected the aircraft’s brakes and tyre assemblies. Despite the in-flight indications, no abnormal temperatures were detected during checks on the ground.
After the inspection was completed and the aircraft cleared for further operation, the flight departed again for Berlin, ultimately arriving with a delay of approximately two hours.
Brake temperature indications are closely monitored during takeoff and initial climb, particularly if heavy braking was required prior to departure. In this case, the crew’s decision to return ensured the situation could be assessed on the ground, with the flight later continuing safely to its destination.
