Over 300 airline passengers have been rescued after spending an unexpected day in Kazakhstan.
An airline spokesperson said this was due to a medical incident on board.
They added that, after landing in Astana, the Kazakh capital, “the passenger concerned was handed over to medical personnel on site.”
However, the Boeing 777 ran into difficulty as it prepared to take off again.
The taxiway at Astana Airport was closed, meaning the pilots had to try to turn the plane around while still on the runway, the airline spokesperson said.
However, the maneuver was unsuccessful, with the plane’s landing gear becoming stuck in the grass.
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Swiss 777-300 becomes stuck on soft ground while turning to backtrack the runway at Astana Nursultan Nazarbayev Airport, Kazakhstan.
Earlier, Swissair flight SWR161 flying from Tokyo to Zurich with a Boeing 777-300ER made an emergency landing at Astana Airport in Kazakhstan.… pic.twitter.com/1E4niQ6EGR
— FL360aero (@fl360aero) August 17, 2024
The Boeing 777 was towed back onto the runway, and the airline considered how to get the passengers back on course.
“As rebooking options in Astana are limited, the possibility of sending a new aircraft and crew from Zurich is also being examined,” the airline said on Saturday.
Ultimately, its sister company, Austrian Airlines, stepped in to help. Both carriers are part of the Lufthansa group.
An Austrian Boeing 777 flew from Vienna to Astana on Saturday night before returning the following day — taking off 20 hours after the first plane landed in Kazakhstan. The Swiss spokesperson said there were 331 people on board.
Swiss then dispatched another 777 to transport passengers from Vienna to Zurich — about 370 miles.
“We thank all our passengers for their understanding and patience in this exceptional and unforeseen situation,” the airline said.
“We apologize once again for any inconvenience caused,” it added. “A big thank you also goes to all the employees involved for their tireless and outstanding efforts.”