An Edelweiss Airbus A330-300, registration HB-JHQ performing flight WK-32 from Zurich (Switzerland) to Havana (Cuba), was climbing through FL290 out of Zurich about 30nm west of Geneva (Switzerland) when the crew reported a hydraulic failure affecting flaps and possibly nose wheel steering and decided to return to Zurich. On approach to Zurich the crew requested a long final approach to have time to set their flaps and requested a tow truck available in case they needed to be towed. The aircraft performed an alternate gear extension (gear doors open) and landed safely on Zurich’s runway 16 about 55 minutes after the decision to return to Zurich, stopped on the runway, shut the engines down and was towed to the apron.
The aircraft remained on the ground for about 2.5 hours, then was able to depart again and is currently estimated to reach Havana with a delay of 4 hours.
The Aviation Herald
Edelweiss Airbus A330-343 suffers hydraulic failure
