A SWISS Airbus A220-300 made an emergency landing in Graz, Austria, on December 23, 2024, after smoke and fumes filled the cabin. Local press reports one member of the cabin crew was airlifted to hospital, while at least 16 others have been taken to hospital, including the flight crew and several passengers.
The flight, LX1885, was operating from Bucharest to Zurich with Airbus A220 registration HB-JCD, and was around an hour into its two-hour flight when crew made the decision to divert. Data from Flightradar24 shows the aircraft descended from 40,000 feet to the runway at Graz in less than 20 minutes.
On board were 74 passengers and five crew members. The aircraft was evacuated via emergency slides on the runway, and Graz Airport (GRZ) was briefly closed.
Cabin crew airlifted to hospital
Local reports indicate that one cabin crew member was seriously affected by the incident and lost consciousness on the plane. Other cabin staff reportedly performed CPR on the person until emergency services could arrive, when he was taken to hospital by helicopter.
In a statement, the airline said, “The plane landed safely. All passengers were evacuated. We are following with concern the condition of a flight crew member who was transported by helicopter to the hospital in Graz. His condition is currently unclear.”
According to the airline, a total of 17 people have been receiving medical attention. This includes the incapacitated crew member, the rest of the crew, and 12 passengers. In the latest update, SWISS says all hospitalized passengers are now able to leave the hospital.
For the aircraft, all forthcoming flights have been canceled, including services between Zurich, Graz, and Berlin on December 23, and services between Zurich and Geneva on December 24. Passengers on LX1885, currently stranded in Graz, will be taken to Zurich on a special flight at 09:45 on December 25.
Airbus A220 smoke in cabin events in 2024
The Airbus A220 has been involved in a few smoke-related incidents this year, according to the Aviation Herald.
In August 2024, a Delta Air Lines A220-300 was on its way out of Minneapolis when the cabin filled with smoke. It safely returned to Minneapolis without injury to crew or passengers. In February 2024, an Air Tanzania A220-300 was climbing out of Dar es Salaam when an engine fault caused thick smoke to enter the cabin, making breathing difficult for the 122 passengers on board.
Smoke entering the cabin is often caused by engine oil or hydraulic fluid leaking into the air conditioning system. When heated to smoke point, oil releases harmful compounds like acrolein and polar compounds. Similarly, smoke from burning hydraulic fluid can cause respiratory issues like lung disease, asthma, and even damage to the central nervous system due to the toxic fumes it produces.
The incident with the SWISS A220 will be investigated by aviation safety experts.