February 16, 2025
Miami-Bound SWISS A330 Returns to Zurich After Pilot Falls Sick

Miami-Bound SWISS A330 Returns to Zurich After Pilot Falls Sick

A SWISS A330-300 bound for Miami made a precautionary return to Zurich after one pilot fell ill during the flight on 19 January.
Peter Bakema (GFDL 1.2 or GFDL 1.2), via Wikimedia Commons

A Swiss International Airlines A330 bound for Miami return to Zürich after one pilot became ill on 20 January 2025.

SWISS flight LX66, operated by an Airbus A330-300 had conducted a departure from Zurich Airport (ZRH). The flight was to be a scheduled service to Miami International Airport (MIA), Florida.

SWISS LX66 Zurich-Miami


Flight track of SWISS LX66 to Miami, showing return to Zurich.

During the transit the Atlantic Ocean at cruising altitude, flight crew reported that one of the pilots had fallen ill. A PAN PAN urgency call was issued before the aircraft conducted a turnaround for a direct return to Zürich.

The aircraft conducted an overweight landing on a runway 16 Zürich Airport, which was carried out safely without further incident. The return landing was made approximately two hours after the diversion was initiated.

Flight track of SWISS LX66 to Miami, showing return to Zurich.

According to the Aviation Herald, the airline confirmed that one pilot did not feel completely fit. As a result the decision was made to make a precautionary return to Zürich.

The flight, together with its return service, was cancelled and passengers rebooked to other flights.

Flight Details


Flight data shows that flight LX66 had initially departed from Zürich Airport at 1016 local time on 20 January.

Following departure, the flight had set course normally, climbing to flight level FL340 for the transatlantic service to Miami.

The flight had transited French airspace and had commenced the transatlantic leg of the crossing when the turnaround was conducted. A direct track was then made to the origin airport.

Peter Bakema (GFDL 1.2 or GFDL 1.2), via Wikimedia Commons

The aircraft conducting the LX66 service to Miami International Airport was an Airbus A330-300, registered HB-JHM. This is a 12.3 year old wide-body aircraft belonging to the carrier Swiss International Airlines.

It has been in operational service with the airline since its initial delivery from the factory in October 2012.

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