Foca flags rising cargo incidents in Swiss skies
Switzerland’s federal office of civil aviation (Foca) reported a spike in misloaded and lost external cargo in 2024, with 18 incidents – the highest figure in five years. According to Foca’s annual safety report, unsecured or improperly assembled external loads posed a growing risk to flight safety, particularly in helicopter transport. One incident involved a netted load containing hidden wooden beams that fell from mid-air after the helicopter lifted off.
The overall number of air incident reports rose by 20% to 12,751 cases, driven by a stronger reporting culture and increased post-Covid traffic. Foca highlighted deficiencies in ground preparation as the main cause of load loss and stressed the need for clearer standards and training. It also noted sharp increases in runway incursions, ground damage and GPS jamming. (ah)