A Swiss International Airlines Boeing 777-300 operating the service from Tokyo to Zürich suffered a runway excursion after diverting to Istana on 17 August 2024.
SWISS flight LX161, the Boeing 777-300 operating from Tokyo Narita Airport had elected to make a diversion to Astana, Kazakhstan due to an on-board medical emergency.
SWISS LX161 Tokyo-Zürich
Having made a safe landing at Astana International Airport (NQZ), the aircraft experienced a runway excursion while attempting to backtrack the active runway.
During the 180° backtracking procedure the aircraft’s nose gear moved off the runway paved surface and became stuck in soft ground on the shoulder of the runway.
As a result, the aircraft had to be placed under tow to return to the runway. It was then subsequently towed to the apron hardstanding area.
A post landing check was then conducted on the aircraft.
Flight Details
Flight data shows that flight LX161 made out of Tokyo Narita on 17 August. The flight shows an actual time of departure of 1200 local time against the scheduled departure time of 1110.
Following departure, the flight had set course normally, and had climbed to flight level FL300 (30,000 feet).
Whilst in transit through Kazakhstan airspace, flight crew elected to carry out a diversion. This was conducted to nearby Astana International Airport following the on-board medical emergency.
A normal approach and landing was then made to Astana, prior to the runway backtrack excursion incident.
The aircraft conducting the LX161 service to Zürich International Airport (ZRH) was a Boeing 777-300, registered HB-JNI. This is a 6.6-year-old wide-body aircraft belonging to the national carrier Swiss International Airlines.
It has been in operational service with the airline since its initial delivery from the factory in January 2018.
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