SWISS Flight Diverted to Kazakhstan After Co-Pilot Falls Ill.

A Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) flight travelling from Seoul to Zurich made an emergency diversion to Almaty after the co-pilot suffered a medical emergency during the journey.

The airline confirmed that the Airbus A350 safely arrived back in Zurich on Friday morning at 6:45am with 221 passengers on board.

According to SWISS, the incident occurred on Wednesday while the aircraft was flying from Seoul to Zurich. After the co-pilot became unwell, three doctors travelling on the flight provided immediate first aid assistance.

Medical professionals on board later advised the crew to divert the aircraft so the co-pilot could receive urgent medical treatment.

The plane landed safely in Almaty, where emergency services transported the co-pilot to a local hospital for further care.

SWISS stated that the co-pilot remains in Kazakhstan but is currently in good health. Another crew member has stayed behind to support him.

All passengers who returned to Zurich on Friday were originally travelling on the diverted flight. Six passengers reportedly chose alternative travel arrangements from Almaty instead of waiting for the rescheduled service.

The airline also arranged onward travel connections for passengers continuing to other destinations after arriving in Zurich.

SWISS apologised for the disruption caused by the unexpected diversion and emphasized that the health and safety of passengers and crew remain its top priority.

Zurich Airport Sees Air Traffic Growth in April 2026.

Air traffic at Zurich Airport has recorded a strong surge in 2026, signaling a full recovery of Switzerland’s aviation sector after the pandemic. According to latest data, April 2026 alone saw 23,300 flight movements, marking a significant increase in activity.

This represents a 5.2% growth compared to 2024, and more importantly, it surpasses pre-pandemic levels recorded in 2019 for the first time this year. The steady rise highlights growing demand for air travel and improved airline operations across Europe.

Between January and April 2026, total flight movements reached 78,600, reflecting a 3.8% year-on-year increase. Although this figure still remains slightly below 2019 levels by 3.3%, the gap is rapidly closing, indicating strong recovery momentum.

Experts note that these figures are based on IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) operations, which include passenger flights, cargo transport, private jets, and charter services. However, passenger numbers and seat occupancy data are expected to be released soon, which will provide a clearer picture of travel demand.

Industry analysts believe that this consistent growth at Zurich Airport confirms that Switzerland’s aviation industry is entering a stable expansion phase, driven by tourism, business travel, and global connectivity.