A Swift Air Avions de Transport Regional ATR-72-200, registration EC-INV performing flight WT-6992 from Cologne (Germany) to Sofia (Bulgaria), was accelerating for takeoff from Cologne when the crew rejected takeoff due to hitting several runway edge lights.
Germany's BFU reported the crew did not realize they had lined up with the runway edge instead of the runway center line lights and hit several edge lights before rejecting takeoff. The aircraft sustained minor damage. The occurrence was rated a serious incident and is being investigated by the BFU.
On Jun 8th 2020 the BFU reported in their April bulletin that the aircraft had taxied to runway 06 via taxiway T. At the hold short line they were cleared to enter and backtrack runway 06. The aircraft taxied onto the runway and taxied along the runway centerline towards the turn pad. The captain (56, ATPL, 9,394 hours total, 8,347 hours on type) was steering the aircraft with his left hand and the steering tiller, the before takeoff checklist was read while taxiing towards the turn pad (abeam taxiway B). The aircraft entered the turn pad and then made a left turn to line up runway 06. During the turn there was some noise in the cockpit, the crew tried to identified the noise initially believing a cockpit door had jumped open but then discovered that a bag of the captain had fallen down behind the seat. The captain finished the turn and aligned the aircraft with the white lights in front of him, both pilots, the first officer (52, ATPL, 5,365 hours total, 4,543 hours on type) being pilot monitoring, were sure they had lined up on the center line of the runway. After receiving the takeoff clearance the captain began acceleration of the aircraft for departure. After a short distance the aircraft unexpectedly experienced a number of jolts, the crew also saw something fly away. The crew rejected takeoff. After a brief discussion the crew vacated the runway via taxiway T and returned to the apron still unable to explain the jolts and noises. A subsequent runway inspection revealed 9 left edge lights had been destroyed, one taxiway light had been damaged, too. The aircraft received damage to the nose wheel, bottom of the fuselage near the main wheels and some propeller blades.
The BFU reported taxiway B was closed due to work in progress.
Similiar occurrences had happened in the past. As result the British AAIB had released a safety recommendation to the ICAO: "It is recommended that the International Civil Aviation Organisation initiate the process to develop within Annex 14 Volume 1, Aerodrome Design and Operations, a standard for runway edge lights that would allow pilots to identify them specifically, without reference to other lights or other airfield features."