In the last few moments, an Edelweiss Airbus A340 operating WK4 between Zurich and Tampa has declared an emergency.
HB-JMC is the aircraft involved in the emergency, which has taken a u-turn south over northern France following this emergency call.
Updates: Edelweiss A340 Zurich-Tampa Declares Emergency…
This is a developing story. Updates below.
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UPDATE #1 @ 1420 UK time – Edelweiss flight WK4 bound for Tampa from Zurich appears to be holding over the Bretagne area at FL300.
UPDATE #2 @ 1424 UK time – WK4 is currently tracking West at FL300, and looks to be making a turn to the east now following this emergency call. Unclear whether it will be holding or proceeding onwards to the Swiss airport.
UPDATE #3 @ 1427 UK time – At this time, it is unclear what the reason for the emergency call is. HB-JMC is an Airbus A340-300 that is 20.2 years old at the time of writing, which was delivered to Swiss originally in October 2003.
UPDATE #4 @ 1429 UK time – WK4 is just about to complete it’s first hold over north-west France.
UPDATE #5 @ 1433 UK time – Data from @RadarBoxCom confirms that the aircraft will head back to Zurich. Initial climb for the aircraft was FL320 but then descended to FL300 upon the emergency broadcast.
UPDATE #6 @ 1436 UK time – If WK4 is indeed heading back to Zurich after these holds, then there could very well be an issue with the airplane, as medical emergencies will typically find the nearest diversion airport that can accept them.
UPDATE #7 @ 1447 UK time – WK4 has now come out of its hold and is tracking West. The aircraft is still squawking 7700.
UPDATE #8 @ 1451 UK time – Edelweiss flight WK4, originally bound for Tampa, looks to be entering into another hold in a different location.
UPDATE #9 @ 1457 UK time – WK4 has changed it’s squawk from 7700 to 3011, indicating that whatever the problem is onboard, the crew are in control of it.
UPDATE #10 @ 1502 UK time – WK4 looks to be done with holding and is now tracking east at this present time. Zurich looks to be the probable diversion field, but will continue to monitor and update as we receive information.
UPDATE #11 @ 1524 UK time – WK4 has made a descent down to FL290 due to airspace requirements on odd altitudes.
UPDATE #12 @ 1604 UK time – Edelweiss flight WK4 has appeared to have landed safely into Zurich following it’s emergency call a few hours ago.
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