A tense mid-flight medical emergency forced a Swiss International Air Lines Airbus A350-900 to divert to Almaty, Kazakhstan, on May 6, 2026, after the first officer became incapacitated during the long-haul flight from Seoul to Zurich.
Swiss flight LX123, operated by Airbus A350-900 HB-IFB, was cruising at 38,000 feet around 300 nautical miles north-northwest of Almaty when the captain made the decision to divert. According to the airline, three doctors traveling onboard immediately assisted the incapacitated first officer and recommended an urgent diversion.
The aircraft landed safely on runway 05R in Almaty about an hour later with 227 passengers and 14 crew members on board. The first officer was transported to a local hospital for further medical treatment.
Interestingly, the flight had two additional pilots onboard, but aviation regulations prevented the flight from continuing without a properly assigned replacement pilot. Swiss confirmed that another pilot would need to be flown to Kazakhstan before the journey to Zurich could resume. After mandatory crew rest requirements, the flight is expected to continue on May 8, 2026.