Swiss BCS3 near Graz on Dec 23rd 2024, uncontained engine failure, smoke on board

Last Update: May 8, 2025 / 16:14:20 GMT/Zulu time

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Incident Facts

Date of incident
Dec 23, 2024

Classification
Accident

Airline
Swiss International Airlines

Flight number
LX-1885

Departure
Bucharest Otopeni, Romania

Destination
Zurich, Switzerland

Aircraft Registration
HB-JCD

Aircraft Type
Airbus A220-300

ICAO Type Designator
BCS3

A Swiss International Airlines Bombardier C-Series CS-300, registration HB-JCD performing flight LX-1885 from Bucharest Otopeni (Romania) to Zurich (Switzerland) with 74 passengers and 5 crew, was enroute at FL400 about 20nm eastnortheast of Graz (Austria) when the crew decided to divert to Graz reporting smoke on board. The aircraft landed on Graz's runway 34 and stopped on the runway about 19 minutes after the decision to divert. The aircraft was evacuated. A rescue helicopter positioned to the aircraft on the runway, took a flight attendant under resuscitation on board and flew him to a hospital, the flight attendant died on Dec 30th 2024. About 17 passengers and a number of crew needed medical attention, too.

The airline stated: "The cockpit crew decided to make an unscheduled landing in Graz. The aircraft is currently on the runway, the passengers have been evacuated. More information will follow." The airline subsequently added that following engine (PW1524G) trouble and smoke in cockpit and cabin they are concerned about one of their cabin crew, the other four crew also went to see doctors. Later the airline announced two additional flights were scheduled to fly to Graz, one with a care team for the passengers and crew already during the night, and another one to take the passengers to their destination the following morning. The cause of the smoke is currently under investigation. 17 passengers required medical attention.

Local Police reported one member of the crew received serious injuries and is currently in the Intensive Care Unit of a local hospital, 13 passengers received minor injuries. Both pilots and 2 cabin crew were taken to the hospital, too.

A replacement BCS3 registration HB-JCG reached Zurich the following morning with a delay of about 12.5 hours.

On Dec 26th 2024 the airline reported that two of three cabin crew are still in hospital care, one of them still in the intensive care unit. The investigation is working diligently to clarify the causes of this accident, in the focus are mechanical components like engines but also the use of the Protective Breathing Equipment (PBE).

On Dec 30th 2024 the airline reported that the seriously injured flight attendant died.

On Jan 5th 2025 the Austrian States Attorney reported that an autopsy revealed the flight attendant had died because of serious brain damage (oedema and hypoxic brain damage) caused by lack of oxygen supply. The flight attendant had an extremely enlarged heart and there are indications he suffered from septic bronchitis. Whether this is connected to the cause of death is part of further investigation, the role of the protective breathing equipment is also subject of investigation.

On Jan 5th 2025 The Swiss Federal Prosecution Office said they are investigating as well and are in contact with the Austrian Prosecution Office in Graz. The crew member had worn a protective breathing equipment (PBE), which according to findings by the airline in 2023 was error-prone, the airline began exchanging the PBEs however had not yet completed the exchange.

On Jan 10th 2025 The Aviation Herald received information stating that the later investigation leader of the Austrian SUB put the PBEs into a bag and handed it to an airport employee to take it out of the airport to the car of the investigation leader, where the PBEs were left unattended for some time until the later investigation leader - an investigation had not yet been opened on December 23rd, only on December 30th when it became known the flight attendant had died - drove away with the PBEs. The later investigation leader subsequently was not reachable until December 30th. A first examination of the PBEs by police in Graz found differences to the video material taken by passengers. Confirmation of this information was obtained by The Aviation Herald only on Jan 22nd 2025 when the airport of Graz confirmed, that an employee was asked by staff of the SUB to take packaged materials to the vehicle of the investigator. It thus is unclear whether the investigation leader took the PBEs legally or not. Austria's Ministry for Mobility, Innovation and Technology stated, an investigation was opened on Dec 23rd 2024. However, investigation authorities in the countries of manufacturers (aircraft, engine, ...) as well as the airline were informed about the opening of the investigation only a week later.

According to information The Aviation Herald received the left hand engine suffered an oil leak causing the smoke, the engine seized as result of an uncontained failure. The engine's main shaft was found fractured. The engine is being replaced.

It became known in February 2025, that the Austrian Prosecution Office opened an investigation against the Austrian SUB, the head of the SUB and 3 more members of the SUB, a house search was conducted at the premises of the Austrian SUB in connection with both this occurrence and the occurrence of Austrian Airlines, Incident: Austrian A320 at Vienna on Jun 9th 2024, hail strike

On Mar 17th 2025 the Austrian SUB released their preliminary report stating that one member of the crew died as result of the occurrence and 3 other members of the crew received minor injuries. The SUB summarized the sequence of events:

The history of the flight and the sequence of events were reconstructed based on statements and reports from the flight crew, in conjunction with data retrieved from the flight data recorder (FDR), cockpit voice recorder (CVR), aircraft health management system (AHMS), radar data, and weather information provided by Austro Control GmbH, as well as investigations conducted by the Federal Safety Investigation Authority. The data presented provides a summarized excerpt for this preliminary report, offering a concise overview of the events.

At 16:30:19, the flight established initial contact with WIEN RADAR on 122.040 MHz while operating normally. One minute later, the aircraft entered Austrian Airspace. Shortly after, at 16:32:12, the cockpit crew detected initial signs of an engine abnormality, as indicated by an EICAS advisory message: L ENGINE FAULT and an INFO message: 79 L ENGINE FAULT - OIL DEBRIS ABOVE LIMIT.

At 16:33:46, a master caution was triggered with an EICAS message: ENG VIBRATION; close to this caution; the cabin crew recalled hearing a loud bang in the passenger cabin.

Subsequently, another master caution appeared on the EICAS, indicating L ENG OPER DEGRADED. At 16:34:12, the cockpit crew detected smoke and immediately donned their oxygen masks.

At 16:34:17, a master warning was issued on the EICAS with the alert LAV SMOKE, accompanied by an aural warning (“smoke” repeated four times). This was shortly followed by a new master warning: L ENG OIL PRESS. In response to these developments, at 16:34:51, CM1 declared a MAYDAY to ATC, reporting smoke in the cockpit and the initiation of a descent.

At 16:35:06, CM1 instructed the cabin crew: “Cabin crew at stations, cabin crew at stations” to prepare for a possible emergency landing. Thereafter, CM1 notified ATC of the decision to divert to Graz immediately. As the situation developed, at 16:37:28, the cockpit crew shut down the left engine according to abnormal procedures.

Efforts to coordinate with the cabin followed, with CM1 attempting to establish two-way communication at 16:39:30 using the cabin communication system. Shortly after, CM2 informed ATC of the lavatory smoke indication and confirmed that the left engine had been shut down.

At 16:40:41, CM1 addressed the passengers via the PA system. The aircraft made initial contact with GRAZ RADAR at 16:41:21. The approach phase commenced, and at 16:47:39, approach clearance for ILS RWY 34C was received. Subsequently, ATC issued landing clearance for RWY 34C.
The aircraft touched down on RWY 34C at 16:53:10 and came to a complete stop on the runway.

At 16:53:41, CM1 instructed: “Cabin crew at stations, cabin crew at stations” to prepare for a potential evacuation. At 16:54:06, CM1 consulted Purser (CM3) regarding the situation in the cabin. Following this assessment, at 16:54:56, the cockpit crew shut down the right engine.
Based on the situation assessment, CM1 initiated an emergency evacuation via the PA system at 16:55:18. All passengers and crew evacuated using four emergency exits.

On May 7th 2025 the Swiss SUST announced: "At the request of the Austrian Federal Safety Investigation Authority, the investigation will be taken over by the STSB."

Related NOTAM:
A2982/24 NOTAMN
Q) LOVV/QFALC/IV/NBO/A /000/999/4700N01526E005
A) LOWG B) 2412231720 C) 2412231920 EST
E) AERODROME CLSD
Aircraft Registration Data
Registration mark
HB-JCD
Country of Registration
Switzerland
Date of Registration
GmlAcjnqAbkifpAf Subscribe to unlock
Certification Basis
Klbcf Subscribe to unlock
Airworthyness Category
HlAfnmlgmmAqjeAb Subscribe to unlock
Legal Basis
Kibg Subscribe to unlock
TCDS Ident. No.
Hpiccimfmnghl Subscribe to unlock
Manufacturer
C SERIES AIRCRAFT LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
Aircraft Model / Type
BD-500-1A11
ICAO Aircraft Type
BCS3
Year of Manufacture
Mifn Subscribe to unlock
Serial Number
Bgqkk Subscribe to unlock
Aircraft Address / Mode S Code (HEX)
BdAAeh Subscribe to unlock
Max. Operational Passenger Seating Capacity (MOPSC), indicative
Nbg Subscribe to unlock
Minimum Crew
Subscribe to unlock
Maximum Take off Mass (MTOM) [kg]
Kcmbq Subscribe to unlock
Engine Count
M Subscribe to unlock
Engine
BhmgAjlgbqAeidilqinqpjlmkghk hlededAhf Subscribe to unlock
Main Owner
N Subscribe to unlock
Main Operator
jqnAqkdbAb hpmidkiemiAjAhbAAnlchnpej njkmpdi fAlkpnlqmqmdhcmlAq Subscribe to unlock
Incident Facts

Date of incident
Dec 23, 2024

Classification
Accident

Airline
Swiss International Airlines

Flight number
LX-1885

Departure
Bucharest Otopeni, Romania

Destination
Zurich, Switzerland

Aircraft Registration
HB-JCD

Aircraft Type
Airbus A220-300

ICAO Type Designator
BCS3

This article is published under license from Avherald.com. © of text by Avherald.com.
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