A Swiss International Air Lines flight was compelled to execute an emergency landing on Monday due to the presence of smoke in both the cabin and cockpit, as per an announcement by the airline. The flight, identified as LX1885, was en route from Bucharest, Romania, heading towards Zurich when the flight crew made the decision to terminate the journey due to engine malfunctions and the development of smoke within the Airbus A220-300 aircraft, the flagship carrier of Switzerland stated in a release. The aircraft safely touched down in the Austrian city of Graz, with all 74 passengers and five crew members successfully evacuated from the scene. Following the incident, twelve passengers and four crew members required medical attention. Of note, one crew member was promptly airlifted to a nearby hospital by helicopter, although their current condition remains undisclosed. The carrier has confirmed that the airplane has been cleared from the runway. At present, the cause behind the occurrence of smoke remains undetermined.
In a statement, SWISS extended its sincere apologies to the passengers for the inconvenience they faced, expressing gratitude for their patience amidst the challenging circumstances. The airline conveyed their sympathy towards the passengers and crew who had to endure the distressing incident, particularly those who are still receiving medical care. SWISS assured that they are closely liaising with the relevant authorities and exerting efforts to ascertain the root cause of the event.
