Following an emergency landing, Swiss International Air Lines acknowledges one crew member’s death

Bern: Following last week’s emergency landing of aircraft LX1885, Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) revealed on Monday that a crew member had died.

“Today is a dark day for SWISS,” Swiss International Air Lines remarked in a Facebook post. Following the emergency landing of LX1885 on December 23, 2024, we must mourn the death of a beloved colleague. Our good colleague’s family and loved ones must be in unspeakable grief, and we send our thoughts and sincere condolences to them.”

Oliver Buchhofer, the COO of SWISS, and Jens Fehlinger, the CEO of SWISS, expressed their sympathies to the deceased’s family and promised to help the victim’s family.

“We are devastated by the loss of our beloved colleague,” Fehlinger added. We are all in the most profound shock and sorrow at his passing. We are thinking about his family, whose suffering is beyond our comprehension. On behalf of the whole SWISS community, I extend my deepest sympathies to them. Naturally, we’ll be doing all we can to support and assist them at this very trying time.”

“This is the saddest day of our lives,” Buchhofer added. I’m devastated and saddened by the loss of our colleague and fellow SWISS team member. However, we support one another at this very trying moment, and we will do all in our power, in collaboration with the appropriate authorities, to identify the reasons. We seek the answers to our numerous inquiries. Our passengers and crew members have received such competent assistance and support from the relevant parties in Graz, especially the local emergency services, for which we are very grateful.”

Notably, on December 23, 2024, SWISS flight LX1885 from Bucharest to Zurich had to make an emergency landing at Graz Airport because of an engine issue and smoke in the cabin and cockpit. In order to protect both passengers and crew, the cockpit crew made the decision to cancel the flight.

The aircraft, an Airbus A220-300 registered HB-JCD, had 74 passengers and five crew members. All of the passengers were evacuated when the plane made a safe landing.