Nicely, a SWISS Boeing 777 is having a reasonably tough day, after it diverted to Kazakhstan for a medical emergency.
SWISS 7777 diverts to Kazakstan for medical emergency
This incident occurred in the present day (Saturday, August 17, 2024), and entails SWISS flight LX161, scheduled to function from Tokyo Narita (NRT) to Zurich (ZRH).
The flight was flown by a six-year-old Boeing 777-300ER with the license plate HB-JNI. It was purported to depart Tokyo at 10:55AM native time, and ended up taking off at 12PM, commencing its 5,976-mile flight to Zurich.
Roughly the primary seven hours of the flight have been routine, because the plane primarily made its method throughout China. Nevertheless, at that time there was a medical emergency, prompting a diversion. The plane flew north a bit, and diverted to Astana Worldwide Airport (NQZ), in Kazakhstan. The airplane touched down there on runway 22 at 4PM native time, precisely eight hours after it departed Tokyo.
This stopover wasn’t purported to be a giant deal, because the intent was for the passenger needing medical consideration to be offloaded, and for the flight to proceed to Zurich. Sadly that’s not how issues performed out, although…
SWISS 777 by chance taxies off runway in Astana
Upon touchdown in Astana, the SWISS Boeing 777 needed to flip round on the runway, because the taxiway was closed. Whereas that is purported to be a reasonably customary process, that’s not the way it performed out right here — for no matter motive, the pilots by chance taxied the airplane into the grass.
The nostril gear then acquired caught within the mushy floor. This brought about main points for operations — the airport’s fundamental runway was closed for over two hours, as rescue efforts have been put into motion to get the airplane out of the grass. The plane finally needed to be towed again onto the runway after which to the apron.
As soon as away from the runway, the plane needed to be inspected for injury. Over seven hours after the preliminary incident, the airplane continues to be on the bottom.
One actually has to marvel how this might occur. Admittedly the pilots most likely weren’t absolutely ready for all circumstances on the airport, since this was a medical diversion. Nevertheless, I’d assume that Boeing 777 pilots would typically have a very good “really feel” for his or her airplane, on the subject of correct dealing with on the bottom.
Right here’s what SWISS needed to say concerning the incident in a press release:
SWISS confirms that the crew of flight LX161 from Tokyo to Zurich made a stopover in Astana (Kazakhstan) attributable to a medical incident on board. The passenger involved was handed over to medical personnel on web site. The touchdown was uneventful.
Because the taxiway at Astana airport was closed, the crew needed to flip the plane on the runway. The plane’s nostril wheel acquired caught within the grass. The plane needed to be towed again onto the runway. The Boeing 777 plane will now be examined by specialists for injury.
We at the moment are working at full velocity to fly our passengers from Astana to Zurich or their vacation spot asap. As rebooking choices in Astana are restricted, the potential for sending a brand new plane and crew from Zurich can be being examined. There have been 319 passengers on board.
I’m curious to see how lengthy the plane stays on the bottom in Astana. It stays to be seen if the plane truly suffered injury, or if the crew merely timed out after how lengthy this ordeal took, and it’s now not potential to function the flight.
Backside line
A SWISS Boeing 777 flying from Japan to Switzerland had a somewhat tough journey in the present day. The plane needed to divert to Kazakstan attributable to a medical emergency. However then attributable to a closed taxiway, the plane needed to backtrack on the runway, and in some way ended up taxiing into the grass.
The plane continues to be on the bottom in Astana over seven hours later, so I feel it’s protected to imagine the crew has timed out at this level. It stays to be seen if the plane can proceed to Zurich as soon as the crew is rested, or what…
What do you make of this SWISS diversion to Astana?