A long-haul flight arriving in Switzerland performed a missed approach after the crew encountered a problem with the aircraft’s flaps during the final stages of the approach.
On March 14th 2026, a Swiss International Air Lines Airbus A340-300, registration HB-JMA, operating flight LX-189 from Shanghai to Zurich with 209 people on board, was approaching Zurich Airport at the end of the intercontinental flight.
While descending through about 2,300 feet on final approach to runway 14, the crew identified a problem with the aircraft’s flap system and initiated a missed approach. The aircraft climbed away and leveled off at about 4,000 feet while the crew assessed the situation and prepared for another landing attempt.
The airline later confirmed that the aircraft’s flaps could not be extended, a condition that requires a modified landing procedure and significantly higher landing speeds.
After repositioning for another approach, the crew lined up for runway 16 and conducted a non-standard landing. The aircraft touched down safely at a higher than normal speed approximately 30 minutes after the initial go-around.
Despite the technical issue, the landing was completed without further incident and all 209 people on board remained safe.
Following the arrival, the aircraft remained on the ground in Zurich about 22 hours after landing while maintenance teams inspected the flap system and carried out the necessary technical checks.