Airbus A220-300 (Photo: Jan Gruber).
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Graz Public Prosecutor's Office: Provisional cause of death of Swiss flight attendant has been determined

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On December 23, 2024, Swiss flight 1885 from Bucharest to Zurich was dramatically interrupted when the cabin of the Airbus A220-300 suddenly filled with smoke at an altitude of 40.000 feet. The incident, which was caused by a technical defect in the aircraft's engine, led to an emergency landing in Graz, during which several passengers, including crew members, suffered severe breathing difficulties. Particularly tragic: a 23-year-old flight attendant from the Lufthansa subsidiary Swiss succumbed to his serious injuries in hospital a week after the incident. The Graz public prosecutor's office has now confirmed the provisional cause of death.

The Swiss 1885 flight was en route from Bucharest to Zurich when the crew suddenly noticed a serious danger at an altitude of 400: the cabin of the Airbus A220-300 was filling with smoke. An emergency was immediately declared. The crew reacted quickly and was able to safely pilot the aircraft to Graz Airport within 19 minutes. During the landing maneuver, the emergency slides were deployed to quickly bring the passengers and crew members to safety.

Among the 74 passengers and five crew members, several people complained of breathing difficulties, which turned out to be symptoms of possible smoke poisoning or oxygen deficiency. A flight attendant who was more seriously affected was flown to a hospital by helicopter. But despite intensive treatment, the 23-year-old Swiss employee died on December 30, 2024 as a result of the incident.

Provisional cause of death: hypoxic brain damage

After an autopsy, the Graz public prosecutor's office announced the preliminary cause of death of the deceased flight attendant: hypoxic brain damage caused by a massive lack of oxygen, as well as cerebral edema. This type of brain damage occurs when the brain receives too little oxygen and is damaged as a result. Further chemical and histological tests as well as possible previous illnesses of the victim are currently being examined, which should provide further clarity about the exact course of the incident.

The authorities are continuing their investigations to determine the exact cause of the sudden smoke in the cabin and the dramatic incident. According to Swiss, a technical defect in the aircraft's engine appears to be the main cause. A previously unknown fault pattern is suspected that led to the smoke development.

Respiratory protection systems and technical inspections

An important aspect of the incident is the respiratory protection systems used by the crew. The protective equipment, known as Personal Breathing Equipment (PBE), has its own oxygen generators and is designed to provide the crew with additional oxygen in the event of an emergency. Following the incident, the public prosecutor's office ordered a technical inspection of the PBE systems to ensure that they function properly in an emergency.

Swiss Airlines uses two different PBE models on its aircraft. A replacement program for around 2023 sets has been running since October 1.000 after a malfunction was discovered in one of the models. Swiss also announced that some of the masks were difficult to remove from their packaging, which could affect their effectiveness in an emergency. This information sheds further light on possible weaknesses in the safety equipment and the causes of the incident.

Engine failure as trigger

Swiss Airlines attributes the cause of the smoke incident in the cabin to a technical defect in the engine of the Airbus A220-300. The aircraft, which flies with the registration HB-JCD, is seven years old. In an internal memo, the airline speaks of a "previously unknown fault pattern" in the engine. Despite this incident, the aircraft remains in service, which may raise the question of whether the problem has been adequately resolved.

The Lufthansa subsidiary Swiss is saddened by the tragic loss of the young flight attendant and stresses that it is taking all necessary measures to clarify the cause of the incident and to continue to ensure the safety of the aircraft. Nevertheless, the circumstances of the incident raise questions about the safety precautions, especially with regard to the protective equipment and the engine defect.

Impact on the airline

The incident raises questions not only about the safety of the technology and equipment, but also about internal communication and crisis management within Swiss.

The fact that the aircraft is still in service despite the previously unknown fault pattern is likely to raise further discussions about maintenance frequency and how safety incidents are handled. The Lufthansa subsidiary will be under pressure to regain public trust in its safety standards after a tragic event such as this has occurred.

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Comment

  • Kevin , 8. January 2025 @ 10: 34

    A clear YES to SWISS.
    It was a very tragic incident, yes, but SWISS maintains its aircraft very conscientiously and is proud of its service and safety. The responsibility here is clearly with the engine manufacturer.

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