Swiss flight 161 from Tokyo Narita to Zurich on August 17, 2024, had to divert to Astana due to a medical emergency. The aircraft’s nose wheel taxied off the runway while the aircraft was trying to make its way to its parking spot after landing at the Kazakh airport.
According to Swiss, “The landing was uneventful.” However, due to a taxiway being closed, the crew had to make a 180-degree turn at the end of the runway and backtrack. While making the turn, the Boeing 777-300ER registered HB-JNI had its nose wheel veer off the runway and get stuck in grass. Following the incident, “the aircraft had to be towed back onto the runway,” said the airline’s statement.
None of the 319 passengers on board were injured.
Swiss said the passenger with medical emergency was handed over to local medical personnel and the airline arranged an ad-hoc Austrian Airlines flight to transport passengers from Astana to Vienna. The flight, OS1302, was operated by a Boeing 777-200ER registered OE-LPC with 331 passengers including 18 Swiss crew members on board.
The passengers were then flown from Vienna to Zurich on an ad-hoc Swiss flight operated by a 777-300ER registered HB-JNE, arriving at their destination around 6 p.m. on August 18, 2024, about 24 hours behind schedule.
Currently, the aircraft involved in the incident is still in Astana. “The Boeing 777 aircraft will now be examined by specialists for damage,” said Swiss. The Austrian 777 departed to Tokyo with a five-hour delay following its unexpected rescue roundtrip to Astana.
