Swiss jet Aborts takeoff after Flame and Smoke Spew from Engine

Swiss Flight Rejects Takeoff at Boston After Flames and Smoke From Engine

A Swiss International Air Lines wide-body began its takeoff at Boston Logan and then stopped after flames and smoke were observed from an engine. The crew rejected the takeoff and brought the aircraft to a safe stop.

The aircraft was preparing for a transatlantic flight from Boston to Zurich on the evening of 16 September 2025. During the takeoff sequence, the crew encountered an engine problem accompanied by visible flames and smoke.

Air traffic control coordinated the emergency response while the aircraft stopped its takeoff. The fire department was dispatched and the aircraft was able to taxi clear of the runway rather than requiring a runway evacuation.

Contemporary reporting identified 223 passengers and 13 crew aboard. No injuries were reported. Some airport operations were temporarily affected while responders dealt with the event.

The exact underlying engine failure was not established in the available initial reporting. The safe outcome is therefore clear, while the mechanical cause should not be presented as settled merely because flames were visible.

The later independent reporting adds useful aircraft and flight details. AeroInside identifies the aircraft as Airbus A330-300 registration HB-JHM operating SWISS Flight LX55 from Boston to Zurich, and reports that the rejected takeoff occurred at low speed after failure of the right-hand Trent 772 engine.

Boston reporting captured the visual sequence: flames and smoke appeared from the rear of the aircraft while it was accelerating on Runway 22R. The FAA said the crew stopped the takeoff because of engine issues at about 6:25 p.m.

After the aircraft stopped, tower personnel reported black smoke from the right engine and fire crews were sent to inspect it. SWISS later said passengers could leave normally after the aircraft returned to the gate.

SWISS also cautioned that the presence of a visible flame does not by itself establish the precise engine failure. The airline said the exact nature of the engine problem remained under investigation. The replacement aircraft eventually carried the passengers to Zurich with a substantial delay.

The incident therefore has two distinct layers: the observable event—engine trouble, flames, smoke and a rejected takeoff—and the still-unresolved technical explanation.

Accident Facts

Sources

• Video source (ATC/audio reconstruction)
• Video/ATC recording