ZURICH, Switzerland — A flight attendant on a Swiss airline has tragically passed away following a serious emergency incident that occurred on a flight from Bucharest to Zurich. The situation escalated on December 23 when the flight was forced to divert to Graz, Austria, due to issues with the aircraft’s engines and smoke permeating both the cockpit and passenger cabin.
According to Swiss International Air Lines, the flight attendant succumbed to their injuries on Monday while receiving intensive care at a Graz hospital. They were one of two crew members who required hospitalization after the emergency landing. Fortunately, all 74 passengers aboard the Airbus A220-300 were safely evacuated after the plane’s landing.
Jens Fehlinger, the Chief Executive Officer of Swiss, expressed profound sorrow over the loss of the flight attendant. In an official statement, he said, “We are devastated at our dear colleague’s death. His loss has left us all in the deepest shock and grief. Our thoughts are with his family, whose pain we cannot imagine. I offer them my heartfelt condolences on behalf of all of us at Swiss.” The airline operates as a subsidiary under the German airline Lufthansa.
In the wake of this incident, the public prosecutor’s office in Graz has mandated a forensic examination of the attendant’s body, according to reports from Austria’s news agency APA. Additionally, it has appointed an aviation specialist to investigate the circumstances surrounding the emergency situation.
Swiss International Air Lines has also announced that it will conduct its own internal investigation to determine the cause of the smoke and its impact on both passengers and crew. The airline emphasized its commitment to clarifying the situation, particularly concerning the mechanical components of the aircraft, including the engine, as well as the effectiveness of the protective equipment used by cabin crew members, known as Protective Breathing Equipment.
Preliminary findings suggest that there may have been a technical issue with one of the aircraft’s engines. The airline has stated that it is not discounting any possibilities and is collaborating closely with relevant authorities, as well as with both Pratt & Whitney, the engine manufacturer, and Airbus, the aircraft manufacturer.
