What happened
On 3 October 1999, an Air Europa Boeing B757-200, registration EC-GCA, was climbing to flight level 330 when the flight crew detected smoke on the left side of the cockpit. The smoke was accompanied by an odor characteristic of an electrical fire or an overheating motor. In response to the situation, the crew elected to divert the aircraft to Geneva Airport. The aircraft landed successfully, and all 202 passengers and 5 crew members disembarked without injury.
The investigation
The investigation was initiated by the Geneva airport authority and conducted by the Swiss Federal Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau. Technical examinations were performed with the assistance of SR-Technics and the operator's maintenance personnel. Investigators interrogated the crew and examined the aircraft's electrical systems.
During the process, investigators attempted to retrieve data from the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) in Zurich. However, a direct readout of the FDR was unsuccessful due to damage to the recording tape, which showed significant speed variations. It was noted that the original security seal on the crash-protected unit had been broken, though the identity of the person responsible could not be determined. The investigation also involved assistance from the French Bureau d'Enquêtes et d'Analyses.