Swiss plane crew member dies after emergency landing

GENEVA, Switzerland - A Swiss International Air Lines crew member who was hospitalized after the plane was forced to make an emergency landing has died, the flag carrier said on Monday.

The Airbus A220-300 jet, with 74 passengers and five crew aboard, was flying from Bucharest to Zurich on December 23 when it had to land in Graz, Austria after engine problems occurred and smoke filled the cockpit and cabin.

"We must report, with the deepest of sorrow and regret, that our young colleague died in the hospital in Graz on Monday," Swiss said in a statement.

Swiss chief executive Jens Fehlinger said the loss had left the airline in shock and grief.

"We are devastated at our dear colleague's death," he said.

"Our thoughts are with his family, whose pain we cannot imagine. I offer them my heartfelt condolences on behalf of all of us at Swiss. And we will, of course, be doing everything in our power to help and support them at this extremely difficult time." — Agence France-Presse