Swiss International Air Lines' Airbus A220-300 suffered engine problems during a December 23 flight from Bucharest to Zurich. This caused the plane's cabin to fill with smoke. The plane was forced to land in Graz, Austria, with a male flight attendant being rushed to a local hospital. Unfortunately, the crew member died on December 30, according to the airline.
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Another crew member was hospitalized along with the deceased flight attendant, according to The Associated Press. The rest of the passengers, totaling 74, were successfully evacuated in Graz after landing.
As a result, Swiss International Air Lines has launched an investigation surrounding the reported engine failure. Moreover, Graz authorities will perform a forensic examination of the crew member's body.
"Our teams of experts are working hard over the festive season to evaluate all the facts and findings available, and are in close contact with the authorities," the airline said in a statement, according to Business Insider. They would also report on some initial findings. It appears there was a "technical problem" with one of the engines, according to the airline.
As the investigations continue, the airline is "not ruling out anything and are working closely with the relevant authorities, the engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney and the aircraft manufacturer Airbus"
"We want to thoroughly clarify the causes of the smoke and the effects on passengers and crew," the airline continues, according to The Mirror. "The focus is on the mechanical parts of the aircraft, such as the engine, but also on the use of protective equipment for the cabin crew, known as Protective Breathing Equipment."
Condolences
Swiss executives later addressed the incident and shared their condolences to the family of the deceased flight attendant.
"We are devastated at our dear colleague's death," Swiss Chief Executive Officer Jens Fehlinger said in a statement. "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."
Similarly, Oliver Buchhofer, Swiss Chief Operating Officer, shared a statement too. "We stand with one another at this truly difficult time; and we will be doing our utmost, together with the relevant authorities, to determine the causes involved," Buchhofer said.
