Source: Simon Hradecky | www.avherald.com

An Austrian Airlines Airbus A320-200, registration OE-LBJ performing flight OS-561 from Vienna (Austria) to Zurich (Switzerland), was climbing out of Zurich’s runway 29 when the crew stopped the climb at FL120 due to smoke on board. The aircraft returned to Vienna for a safe landing on runway 29 about 17 minutes after departure.

A passenger reported, that already before take-off the crew apologized for bad smell in the cabin and related it to an external aircondition. One passenger perceived the smell of Kerosene / old socks. After landing back in Vienna, the crew also talked about development of smoke (and not only strong smell) inside the aircraft. After checks of the cockpit performed by the Airport Fire and Rescue Service as well police completed, passengers were allowed to deboard the aircraft.

After landing the crew announced there had been a very bad and strong smell event and light smoke due to a problem with the air conditioning systems, they were now also going to shut engine #2 (CFM56, right hand) down.

The passengers disembarked normally and were bussed to the terminal.

The aircraft returned to service about 50 hours after landing back.