A cabin crew member has died after a passenger plane was forced to make an emergency landing.
Clouds of smoke filled the Airbus A220-300 jet as it experienced an engine problem from Bucharest, Romania, to Zurich, Switzerland.
The jet, which had 74 passengers and five crew on board, was forced to make an unscheduled emergency landing at an airport Graz, Austria on December 23.
Passengers and crew quickly evacuated, with 12 people receiving urgent treatment at the scene, MailOnline reports.
One worker was airlifted to hospital and put in intensive care and has since died, a Swiss International Air Lines spokesman announced on Tuesday.
“We must report, with the deepest of sorrow and regret, that our young colleague died in the hospital in Graz on Monday,” they said.
The carrier’s CEO, Jens Fehlinger said in a press release: “We are all deeply shocked by the death of our beloved colleague.
“The news leaves us deeply saddened and stunned. Our thoughts are with the young man’s relatives, whose pain must be boundless.
“I offer them my heartfelt condolences on behalf of all of us at Swiss,” Fehlinger added.
The airline said a second crew member, who was also rushed to the hospital after the incident, has since been discharged.
Initial investigations suggest the cabin and cockpit filled with smoke due to a technical defect in one of the engines, according to The Sun.
Austrian prosecutors have launched an inquiry into possible negligent bodily injury.
Swiss COO Oliver Buchhofer said in Tuesday’s announcement that it is the “saddest of days for us all”.
“Losing our colleague and fellow member of our Swiss team leaves me distraught and dismayed,” he added, insisting that the carrier would “with the relevant authorities, to determine the causes involved.”
The Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) said both aircraft and engine manufacturers have been informed.
Members of Airbus’ press team have been approached for comment.