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24 fatalities

2001 Crossair Flight 3597 accident (HB-IXM)

Zurich-Kloten, SwitzerlandLanding (descent or approach)

On November 24, 2001, an Avro RJ100 (registration HB-IXM) operated by Crossair was involved in an aviation accident near Zurich-Kloten, Switzerland during landing or approach. 24 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The flight crew deliberately continued the descent under instrument flight conditions below the minimum altitude for the approach without having the necessary prerequisites, and initiated the go-around too late, resulting in controlled flight into terrain. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 2 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary report: the Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board (STSB / SUST)Updated 2026-09-03Data APIEditorial standards
Aircraft registered HB-IXM
Aircraft registered HB-IXM. Photo: Ingo Richardt / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

On 24 Nov 2001, an Avro 146 RJ 100 (HB-IXM) operated by Crossair as Flight CRX3597 crashed in the Geissbühl forest near Zurich after continuing below MDA. Twenty-four people died.

Accident overview On 24 November 2001 at 20:01 UTC, an Avro 146 RJ 100 registered HB-IXM, operated by Crossair as scheduled flight CRX3597, departed runway 26L at Berlin-Tegel Airport for Zurich in darkness. After an uneventful flight, the aircraft received clearance at 20:58:50 UTC for a standard VOR/DME approach to runway 28 at Zurich Airport. ## Final approach An Embraer EMB 145 operating as flight CRX3891 had landed ahead of the accident aircraft on runway 28, and its crew reported weather close to the minimum for that runway. Flight CRX3597 reported on the aerodrome control frequency at 21:05:21 UTC. At 21:06:10, when the aircraft reached the minimum descent altitude (MDA) of 2,390 feet QNH, the commander stated he had certain visual ground contact and continued the descent. ## Impact and casualties At 21:06:36 UTC the aircraft struck treetops and then impacted the ground, catching fire. Twenty-one passengers and three crew members died at the site; seven passengers and two crew members survived. The wreckage was located in the Geissbühl forest, 4,050 metres short of runway 28.

Probable cause

The flight crew deliberately continued the descent under instrument flight conditions below the minimum altitude for the approach without having the necessary prerequisites, and initiated the go-around too late, resulting in controlled flight into terrain.
Controlled flight into terrain

Related events

Same operator

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 24 Nov 2001 Avro RJ100 accident near Zurich-Kloten, Switzerland?

On 24 Nov 2001, an Avro 146 RJ 100 (HB-IXM) operated by Crossair as Flight CRX3597 crashed in the Geissbühl forest near Zurich after continuing below MDA. Twenty-four people died.

Were there any fatalities in the 24 Nov 2001 Avro RJ100 accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 24 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 24 Nov 2001 involved an Avro RJ100, registration HB-IXM, operated by Crossair, at Zurich-Kloten, Switzerland.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The flight crew deliberately continued the descent under instrument flight conditions below the minimum altitude for the approach without having the necessary prerequisites, and initiated the go-around too late, resulting in controlled flight into terrain.

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