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. In a collaboration within the Lufthansa Group, Austrian Airlines stepped in to fly the passengers to Europe.
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 During a turning maneuver the nose wheel got stuck in the grass and got stuck. The Boeing 777-300ER aircraft had to be towed from the runway and thoroughly inspected 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, a sister company of Swiss, showed solidarity and sent a Boeing 777-200 to Astana to pick up the stranded passengers. This aircraft was to take the 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 ensured that passengers were 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. Hotel accommodation was organized for passengers and crew who had to remain in Astana until the flight to Vienna could take place.
While passengers waited in Astana for their onward flight to Vienna, Swiss had to make further adjustments to its flight operations. The Boeing 777-300ER that was being 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 regret in a statement and 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 these."