Swiss A343 near Kazan on Sep 2nd 2012, unruly passengers prompt return to Zurich
Last Update: September 3, 2012 / 23:08:26 GMT/Zulu time
Incident Facts
Date of incident
Sep 2, 2012
Classification
Accident
Airline
Swiss
Flight number
LX-196
Departure
Zurich, Switzerland
Destination
Beijing, China
Aircraft Registration
HB-JMD
Aircraft Type
Airbus A340-300
ICAO Type Designator
A343
Swiss Police reported two male passengers (57 and 29) had started a fight for so far unknown reasons. The two unruly passengers were arrested upon arrival back in Zurich, they appeared both intoxicated, the older could therefore not yet be interviewed.
The airline reported following the escalation between the two passengers the crew decided to return to Zurich due to operational considerations including visa issues with Russia. The flight was still closer to Zurich than to Beijing, the return went calmly. The about 200 passengers were rebooked onto other flights and where necessary provided with accomodation.
Passengers reported (in Chinese) on China's Weibo Service after arrival in China, that two male passengers, one a young man and the other about 70 years old, both obviously drunk, engaged in a fight landing both on the cabin floor. When the chief flight attendant attempted to stop the fight and calm the two, they both physically attacked the flight attendant, who got injured. The unruly passengers were subdued with the assistance of other cabin crew and passengers and restrained. Russia refused a landing of the aircraft, so that the aircraft returned to Zurich, where the two unrulies were handed over to police.
Other passengers reported from Europe that dinner was just being served when the younger male reclined his seat, the older sitting behind the young, obviously feeling disturbed while eating and obviously drunk, began to shout and finally struck the younger passenger's head. The young jumped up and a fight erupted. When the chief flight attendant tried to separate the two, the older attacked the flight attendant attempting to strangle the flight attendant. While the younger stopped fighting the older needed to be subdued with the assistance of another passenger, was handcuffed and seated in the back of the aircraft but continued to shout. The younger passenger was treated for a head injury.
Aircraft Registration Data
Incident Facts
Date of incident
Sep 2, 2012
Classification
Accident
Airline
Swiss
Flight number
LX-196
Departure
Zurich, Switzerland
Destination
Beijing, China
Aircraft Registration
HB-JMD
Aircraft Type
Airbus A340-300
ICAO Type Designator
A343
This article is published under license from Avherald.com. © of text by Avherald.com.
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