SWISS A330 aircraft. Photo: SWISS Yesterday (Sunday, April 26, 2026), SWISS flight LX147 was forced to abort takeoff at Delhi airport due to a malfunction in one of the A330 aircraft's engines and perform an emergency evacuation of all passengers and crew. Six passengers required medical treatment.
The company has recently published another update on the latest developments, noting that three of the passengers evacuated for medical treatment have been released from the hospital, while one remains under medical supervision.
At the same time, the Zurich air crew returned to base, while the three local crew members remained in Delhi and are in good condition.
As for the aircraft, it is still awaiting approval from the Indian authorities for further testing. Once approval is received, the company's technical team is expected to conduct a comprehensive inspection of the engine and decide whether it needs to be replaced. At this stage, it is unclear when the aircraft will return to service.
SWISS emphasizes that there is no impact on flight operations, and that no flights have been canceled following the incident.
SWISS’s Chief Operating Officer, Oliver Buchhofer, explained that evacuation is always an exceptional situation, for both passengers and the crew, adding that, when in doubt, they act decisively in the interests of safety.
Buchhofer went on to reassure the public that their crews are extensively trained for handling precisely such situations, which also means giving clear and very loud instructions, something that may seem unusual, given the fact that passengers are used to crews being calm and welcoming. However, during an evacuation, using a different tone is essential to enable everyone to react quickly and safely, the COO argued.
The official also made sure to address the need for increased awareness, especially in relation to tackling hand luggage in an emergency. For a quick and safe evacuation, he said, it's essential to leave personal belongings behind.
Buchhofer also acknowledged the emotions seeing such emotions can trigger, even for those who were not directly involved, which is why he explained, it is important to put things in the right context: uniform procedures, practiced responses, and a clear focus on the safety of everyone on board.