Swiss International Air Lines flight aborts Boston takeoff after engine flames; no injuries
Flight 55 halted at Logan Airport on Sept. 16 after flames and smoke were seen from an engine; FAA paused some arrivals and will investigate.
A Swiss International Air Lines jet bound for Zurich, Switzerland, aborted its takeoff at Boston Logan International Airport on Sept. 16 after flames and smoke were seen coming from one of its engines, airline and federal officials said. The 223 passengers and 13 crew members aboard the aircraft were not injured.
The airline identified the flight as SWISS Flight 55 and said the crew stopped the takeoff around 6:25 p.m. local time after detecting engine issues. The Federal Aviation Administration said it briefly paused some arrivals to Logan while the plane taxied off the runway and that the FAA will investigate the incident.
Air traffic control audio reviewed by local media captured an exchange in which a controller told the crew, "There appears to be black smoke from one of the engines as you revved up. We have the fire department on their way out on the runway now; they’re coming to take a look at it. They can give you a better assessment." The airline said investigations into the exact nature of the engine problem are underway and added that, depending on the fault, a brief visible flame from an engine is possible.
A passenger on the flight, Molly Furrer, described a sudden noise and jolt as the aircraft accelerated down the runway. "We're about halfway down the runway when, all of a sudden, there's kind of a boom noise and a big jolt, so the plane jolts forward," she told NBC 10 Boston. She said passengers felt the plane braking and then skidding to a stop, and that flight crew did not immediately explain what had occurred. She said panic intensified when passengers heard sirens and saw ambulances arrive on the tarmac.
The airline confirmed to media that the aircraft that eventually departed for Zurich later that night was not the same one involved in the aborted takeoff. Flight-tracking site FlightAware showed the flight arrived in Zurich at 11:43 a.m. local time the following day, more than five hours later than scheduled. Swiss International Air Lines said the affected passengers were rebooked and that safety is its top priority.
"Our pilots are excellently trained and prepared to react quickly and appropriately in such exceptional situations," a Swiss International Air Lines spokesperson said in a statement. The airline said it deeply regretted the inconvenience caused to passengers.
Emergency responders were dispatched to the runway as a precaution, and airport operations resumed after the aircraft was cleared and moved off the active runway. Logan Airport did not immediately respond to requests for additional comment.
Incidents in which visible engine flames or smoke occur during ground operations are investigated by airlines and federal authorities to determine root causes, which can range from fuel or oil system anomalies to component failures or bird strikes. The FAA and the airline will examine maintenance records, cockpit voice and flight data, and witness accounts as part of their review.
No injuries were reported, and the FAA said it would provide more information upon completion of its investigation. Swiss International Air Lines said it would cooperate fully with authorities and review the technical circumstances that led to the aborted takeoff.
The incident adds to a number of recent aircraft ground and takeoff events worldwide that prompted federal reviews, though investigators stressed that pilots are trained to halt a takeoff if there are indications of engine trouble. Authorities did not provide a timeline for completing the FAA investigation.