SWISS’s new Airbus A350‑900 aircraft. Photo: SWISS Flight diverted due to pilot’s illness.
The drama surrounding flight LX123 from Seoul to Zurich has come to an end as SWISS Airlines announced that its Airbus A350 safely returned to Zurich today, May 8, 2026, after an unscheduled emergency landing in Almati, Kazakhstan, necessitated by a co-pilot’s medical issue during the journey.
The flight, which originally departed from Seoul, South Korea, was forced to land in Kazakhstan when the co-pilot’s health deteriorated mid-flight, prompting immediate medical attention.
This morning, the aircraft departed Almati and arrived in Zurich at 6:45 AM with 221 passengers and 13 crew members onboard. Six passengers chose to continue their travels from Almaty by alternative means.
According to the airline, all passengers from the disrupted flight rejoined a scheduled connection to Zurich, where they were rebooked to reach their final destinations.
The co-pilot in need of medical care remained in Almati, accompanied by another crew member. SWISS stated that they are maintaining continuous contact with him and report that he is in good condition.
The airline acknowledged the inconvenience caused by the unplanned landing and stopover in Kazakhstan, emphasizing that the crew member’s health was their top priority. SWISS also expressed gratitude to their own staff and Lufthansa Group colleagues in Almati for their handling of the incident.