A week after the emergency landing of a Swiss plane at Graz airport, a crew member died on the LKH Graz on December 30. The investigation focuses on the crew’s protective equipment.
A Swiss Air plane with flight number LX 1885 had to make an emergency landing in Graz on Monday evening with 79 people on board. One crew member was seriously injured in the incident and taken to hospital by helicopter; the man died a week later.
The flight required an emergency landing due to heavy smoke in the cockpit and cabin – believed to be caused by engine problems. But the crew’s protective equipment, which may have been defective, is now under further investigation.
Protective equipment guarantees the ability to act
“While passengers generally do not have access to any protective equipment if there is smoke on board (the passenger oxygen masks would aggravate the situation, so they are only approved for use in the event of cabin depressurization), Equipment is available for the crew, so they can continue acting,” explains Patrick Huber from austianwings.info.
Why did humans suffer from smoke poisoning?
However, the crew has special protective masks, including full face masks for the pilots and so-called smokehoods (see photo above) for the flight attendants. The question now arises as to why the deceased flight attendant suffered such serious smoke inhalation, even though this equipment was available.
Deficiencies in respirators
The case is also explosive because in October 2023, Swiss discovered defects in the cabin crew’s breathing masks, which had been noticed in previous smoking incidents. Although the airline announced the replacement of the defective masks, the affected model was still on board the plane in Graz, according to Huber. It is now being investigated whether a defective ‘smoke hood’ led to the flight attendant’s death.
Airline mourns flight attendants
“It is with great sadness that we have to announce that we have lost a dear colleague following the emergency landing of LX1885 on December 23, 2024. Our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to the family and loved ones of our colleague at this difficult time,” the airline wrote late on Monday evening on X (formerly Twitter).
Finding the cause has the highest priority
Swiss boss Jens Fehlinger was “deeply sad and stunned”, while fellow board member Oliver Buchhofer, responsible for operational affairs, said: “It is a black day for all of us.” He emphasized that the company is now doing everything it can to “find the causes together with the responsible authorities.” “We have many questions and want answers to them,” Buchhofer continues.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
