Incident Overview
On April 17, 2024, at approximately 22:46 UTC, a serious incident occurred at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (KJFK) involving an Airbus A330-343, registration HB-JHD, operated by Swiss International Air Lines Ltd. as flight SWR17K. The aircraft was scheduled to depart from Runway 04L to Zurich Airport (LSZH) under instrument flight rules (IFR).
Sequence of Events
According to the Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board (STSB), the Local 1 controller cleared Swiss flight SWR17K for takeoff on Runway 04L. At the same time, the Local 2 controller had instructed four other aircraft to cross the same runway downfield. The A330 began its takeoff roll and reached a speed of 50 knots and a distance of approximately 800 feet down the runway when the pilot decided to abort the takeoff. The closest proximity between the A330 and the first crossing aircraft was reported to be about 4,600 feet.
Aircraft and Personnel
The aircraft involved was an Airbus A330-343, registered as HB-JHD, owned and operated by Swiss International Air Lines Ltd. The flight crew consisted of 2 pilots, with 10 additional crew members and 210 passengers on board. No injuries to crew, passengers, or third parties were reported, and no damage to the aircraft or ground equipment occurred.
Investigation
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has initiated an investigation into the incident. The STSB has also been notified as the aircraft is registered in Switzerland. Further details regarding causal factors have not yet been released.