ZURICH — A transatlantic flight bound for New York was forced to turn back on the taxiway at Zurich Airport (ZRH) after an aggressive, reportedly intoxicated passenger disrupted the cabin, requiring police intervention before the aircraft could safely depart.
The Incident on the Taxiway
Swiss International Air Lines flight LX14, a scheduled long-haul flight from Zurich to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), had pushed back normally from gate E46. The flight was being operated by an Airbus A330-300 with the registration HB-JHA.
While taxying toward the runway, the flight crew was forced to halt the aircraft. The pilots immediately contacted Air Traffic Control (ATC). They requested that local police and ambulance to meet the aircraft. “We’re not sure how the passenger will react”.
Return to a Different Gate
Rather than returning to its original departure gate, the Airbus A330 taxied back to a different position at the terminal:
- Departure Gate: E46
- Arrival/Return Gate: E52
The aircraft remained parked at gate E52 while local police officers and medic team boarded the plane.
Delay and Eventual Departure
Once the passenger and their baggage were removed and the cabin was secured, flight LX14 was cleared again for departure. The flight finally took off from runway 16 at 15:20, approximately two hours behind its original scheduled departure time.
