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A Swiss International Air Lines flight bound for Zurich had to abort its takeoff from Boston Logan International Airport on Tuesday (September 16) after flames and smoke were seen coming from one of its engines. The incident occurred around 6:25 p.m. local time, and no injuries were reported among the 223 passengers and 13 crew members on board.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) briefly paused some arrivals at the airport as the plane taxied on the runway. An air traffic controller informed the Swiss Air Lines crew of the black smoke, and the airport's fire department was dispatched to assess the situation.
Passenger Molly Furrer described the moment to WBTS as "a boom noise and a big jolt," followed by the plane braking and skidding to a stop. Although passengers were initially left in the dark about the cause, Furrer expressed relief that the issue was caught before the aircraft became airborne.
The airline confirmed that the flight eventually departed later that evening with a different aircraft, arriving in Zurich more than five hours after its scheduled time. Swiss International Air Lines emphasized that passenger and crew safety is their top priority and apologized for the inconvenience caused by the incident. The FAA has launched an investigation into the engine problem.