A Kuwaiti government Airbus A340-500 departed Zurich Airport on 29 September with a wing-rocking farewell manoeuvre after carrying Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah on an official visit to Switzerland. The aircraft, registered 9K-GBA, drew attention from aviation observers for the unusual post-takeoff salute, which followed two days of meetings in Bern and Zurich centred on bilateral ties.
The visit coincided with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Kuwait and Switzerland and included talks with Swiss President Guy Parmelin. Swiss official releases confirmed the Crown Prince’s presence in the country, while aviation-tracking and spotting coverage identified the departure sequence and the aircraft’s left-right bank after takeoff.
For aviation readers, the manoeuvre stands out because it combines a state visit with a rare VIP departure gesture visible on flight tracking. Such salutes are uncommon and typically attract interest from aircraft spotters and operators watching high-level government movements. The case also highlights how special departures can be documented in real time through ADS-B data and visual tracking, even when the manoeuvre itself is not described in official diplomatic material.