On 11 October 2012, a Ryanair Boeing 737-800 taxied for departure from runway 04 at Eindhoven where ATC is provided by the Air Force. To reach the start of the runway, all departing civil aircraft must normally cross the single runway in order to reach the only parallel taxiway but on this occasion, a backtrack was necessary due to maintenance on part of that parallel taxiway. Instead of clearing the runway near the end after backtracking and contacting TWR for departure as instructed by GND, the aircraft made a 180° turn and took off without clearance. No consequent danger resulted.