Earlier today, SWISS flight LX40 operating from Zurich to Los Angeles suffered an engine problem that required the shut down of the engine and an emergency diversion to a nearby airport. The aircraft flying to route was one of their newer 777 aircraft, tail number HB-JND.
The plane landed safely at Iqaluit Airport (YFB) after traveling nearly 3000 miles from Zurich. There is no immediate time frame for the continuation of the flight. The airport’s main runway was closed for nearly an hour after the aircraft arrived.
There actually was someone at the airport able to catch the emergency landing.
The following video is from Twitter user @Tattuinee who captured the moment the 777 landed.
.@FlySWISS flight 40 landing at @IqaluitAirport pic.twitter.com/Go9YxdxFMe
— ᑯᐹᒃ ᐅᒃᑯᖅ ᑕᑦᑐᐃᓂ (@tattuinee) February 1, 2017
Now being towed safely to the apron:
.@FlySWISS now on apron I pic.twitter.com/P3xP8rfG9v
— ᑯᐹᒃ ᐅᒃᑯᖅ ᑕᑦᑐᐃᓂ (@tattuinee) February 1, 2017
Iqaluit is in the Nunavut region of Canada near the entrance to Hudson Bay, and not far from Santa’s workshop in the North pole.
Santa’s Workshop is just a quick dog sled trip away…
A quick decision was made to divert. Graphic courtesy of FlightRadar24.com.
As luck would have it (for me at least), I have a friend who is on this flight so I expect hear all about his adventure in this remote outpost. If there’s anything interesting to share, I’ll follow up with another post.
UPDATE: Swiss has sent an aircraft from New York to pick up stranded passengers and take then onward to Los Angeles.
Actually we stayed on the plane for 14 hours after landing – no town tour or visit to the pub. A balmy -31 C during the night. Finally got a new plane but it only took us to New York. Then another 8 hour wait for me for a Delta flight to LA.
Text book landing and an interesting experience. A local said the northern lights had been on show that night, but not for us unfortunately. Would’ve made it almost worthwhile.