A Swiss International Air Lines flight en route from Tokyo to Zurich had to make an unscheduled stopover in Astana, Kazakhstan, on August 17, 2024 due to a medical emergency on board. During a failed turning maneuver, the nose wheel of the Boeing 777 got stuck in the grass.
Swiss flight LX161, a long-haul flight from Tokyo to Zurich, was over Central Asia in the early afternoon when the crew was informed of a passenger's medical emergency. According to the airport, a passenger had suffered a stroke. In such situations, it is the crew's responsibility to make an immediate decision to save the passenger's life. Given the seriousness of the situation, the crew decided to divert to Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. The decision to use Astana as an emergency landing location was based on its geographical proximity and the availability of local medical care.
The landing in Astana initially went off without any major incidents. The affected passenger was immediately taken care of by medical professionals and taken to a local hospital for further treatment. The emergency medical care was quick and effective, which underlines the importance of the crew's decision to divert the flight.
However, after the safe landing, a mishap occurred: Since the taxiway at the airport in Astana was closed, the crew had to turn the plane 180 degrees on the runway. During this maneuver, the nose wheel of the plane got stuck in the grass. Such situations are rare in aviation, but do occur occasionally.
Measures and reactions after the stopover
After the aircraft's nose wheel got stuck, the plane had to be towed back to the runway. This was done immediately by the ground crews at Astana Airport. The Boeing 777 was then examined by technicians for possible damage. Safety inspection of an aircraft after such incidents is a standard procedure to ensure that there is no structural or mechanical damage that could endanger the safety of the flight.
With 319 passengers on board, Swiss was now faced with the challenge of organizing the onward journey for these passengers. Since rebooking options in Astana were limited and the arrival of replacement aircraft from Europe is time-consuming, the airline considered several options to get its passengers to Zurich or their final destinations as quickly as possible. Organizing a new crew and a replacement aircraft from Zurich was one of the possible solutions that was considered.
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