A Swiss International Air Lines Airbus A330 was forced to abandon its overnight flight from Mumbai to Zürich in the early hours of Friday, 5 June, after a fault warning appeared in the aircraft’s electrical system. This left 231 passengers stranded back in India.
Flight LX155 had departed Mumbai at 21:34 Central European Summer Time on Thursday evening when the fault was detected. The affected system controls cabin lighting, seats, toilets and the onboard entertainment system. Rather than continue the roughly 9-hour journey to Switzerland, the crew decided to return to Mumbai.
A fault indicator in the electrical system forced the crew to return to Mumbai.
According to local media reports, Swiss spokesperson Nicole Meier confirmed the fault, describing it as an error message in the electrical system. She emphasised that the crew’s priority was to guarantee a safe landing and that the decision to return was made in accordance with standard operating procedures.
SWISS did not specify whether the fault was confirmed as a genuine malfunction or a false alert.
Swiss Flight From Mumbai Circles Arabian Sea For Two Hours Before Returning To India
The aircraft could not simply turn around and land immediately. A fully fuelled long-haul Airbus A330 at cruise weight significantly exceeds its maximum permitted landing weight, touching down overweight risks structural damage to the airframe and landing gear. The crew therefore spent 130 minutes circling over the Arabian Sea, completing 15 loops at an altitude of approximately 4,000 metres, burning off around 20 tonnes of fuel before the aircraft was light enough to land safely.
The aircraft touched down safely in Mumbai at 04:55 CEST.
All 231 passengers on board were returned to Mumbai and faced significant onward delays while Swiss arranged alternative connections to Zürich
A Difficult Time For SWISS India Routes
In April, a separate Swiss Airbus A330 had to abort its takeoff at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport after an engine fire was reported during the departure roll, resulting in an emergency evacuation of the aircraft and injuries to four passengers.
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