Helsinki-Vantaa aircraft accident investigation reveals procedural failures

An investigation by the Safety Investigation Authority (Otkes) has concluded regarding an aircraft accident at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport on August 16, 2025. An ATR 72-500 aircraft, operated by Nordic Regional Airlines (Norra), a partially owned subsidiary of Finnair, moved unintentionally after engine startup and collided with a ground power source.

The immediate cause of the incident was that the aircraft's parking brake had not been engaged. Otkes investigation lead Janne Kotiranta noted that a larger underlying factor was a discrepancy between practical operations and established management procedures, meaning instructions were not followed as documented.

The collision resulted in significant material damage, but no injuries were reported. A ground handling employee from Airpro, who was assisting with preparations outside the aircraft, narrowly escaped being crushed by the moving plane. The investigation also highlighted deficiencies in post-collision actions by the cockpit crew, who failed to declare an emergency or distress situation to air traffic control.