A medical emergency recently forced a Swiss plane on its flight from Tokyo to Zurich to make an unscheduled stopover in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. What followed was a series of events that posed enormous challenges not only for the passengers affected, but also for the airline itself. One of the passengers will be flying in Europe on board Austrian Airlines, which is part of the Lufthansa Group.
On August 17, 2024, a medical emergency occurred on board Swiss flight LX161 from Tokyo to Zurich, forcing the crew to initiate an immediate stopover. Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, was selected as the nearest suitable airport. The crew made the decision to place the affected person in the care of local medical professionals as quickly as possible in order to ensure optimal care.
The landing in Astana was without any major incidents, but the situation worsened when the aircraft’s nose wheel hit the grass during a turning maneuver and got stuck. The Boeing 777-300ER aircraft had to be towed to the runway and undergo a thorough inspection for possible damage, which significantly delayed the onward flight. This unexpected situation presented Swiss with the challenge of transporting its passengers quickly and safely.
In such critical situations, close cooperation within the Lufthansa Group is invaluable. Austrian Airlines, Swiss’ sister company, showed solidarity and sent a Boeing 777-200 to Astana to pick up the stranded passengers. These aircraft were to take Swiss passengers to Vienna, where they were expected the next day at 10:15 a.m. (Zurich local time). From Vienna, the passengers were then transported on to Zurich or to their respective final destinations.
This solution ensures that passengers are returned to Europe as quickly as possible and with minimal additional delay. It also enabled Swiss to continue its flight operations with the least possible impact on other flights. For passengers and crew, the flights in Astana are clear, the hotels are organized and the flight in Vienna could take place.
While passengers wait in Astana for their onward flight to Vienna, Swiss has to make further adjustments to its flight operations. The Boeing 777-300ER that was examined in Astana was now missing from regular operations, leading to delays and rebookings. The long-haul flight from Zurich to São Paulo, originally scheduled for the same evening, had to be postponed until the next morning. Another long-haul flight scheduled for the following midday was also delayed.
Oliver Buchhofer, Chief Operating Officer of Swiss, expressed his regrets but at the same time praised the cooperation within the Lufthansa Group: « Our crew and the employees at Astana Airport are doing everything they can to provide the best possible service to passengers. » At the same time, we would like to thank Austrian Airlines for their support. We are happy to be part of the Lufthansa Group so that we can count on their support even in unforeseen situations like this. »
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