On Saturday, February 4, 2023, the Boeing 767-300ER operated by Austrian Airlines with the registration OE-LAY had to complete a return landing twice in a row at Vienna-Schwechat Airport. Actually, the long-haul aircraft should fly to Montreal as OS73.

The long-haul fleet of Austrian Airlines is slowly but surely getting on in years. Only one in nine machines is less than 20 years old. Some are already 25 years or more under their belts. Only the Boeing 20-777 with the registration OE-LPD has not yet reached the 200s. Troubled by technical problems, the B767-300ER is about 24,1 years old.

On Saturday, February 4, 2023, the cockpit crew was surprised by an error message. As is usual in such cases, the captain decided to land at Vienna-Schwechat Airport. Before that, however, kerosene had to be burned, otherwise the long-haul aircraft would have been too heavy. Shortly after landing, the OE-LAY was examined by technicians. They gave the green light so that a second attempt to fly to Montreal could be made.

But the OE-LAY probably didn't want to, because after the second start an error message appeared again. Again the captain decided to return to Vienna-Schwechat airport. At 13:55 p.m. local time, the Boeing 767-300ER landed again at Austria's largest airport. A third attempt was then dispensed with, because OS73 was then deleted. According to Austrian Airlines, the affected passengers have been rebooked on other connections to Canada.

A tabloid claimed that the cause of the second return landing was a medical emergency. However, this could not be confirmed by the airline and airport. Both return landings are said to be due to technical reasons.