Officials reveal cause of smoke that diverted Swiss flight to Maine
Officials say a headphone charging case caused the smoke that forced a diversion of a Swiss Air flight to Bangor International Airport.
BANGOR, Maine —
A damaged headphone charging case caused smoke aboard a Swiss International Air Lines flight from Zurich to New York, prompting an emergency diversion to Maine, the airline said Wednesday.
Flight LX16 landed safely at Bangor International Airport on Monday after smoke appeared in the forward section of the business-class cabin. The cockpit crew diverted to the nearest suitable airport, and there was no fire, according to the airline.
A technical team sent to Bangor determined that a headphone charging case had slipped into a seat and become jammed. The device was damaged, causing its lithium battery to overheat and emit smoke.
The case stores and charges headphones using a built-in power bank.
Swiss Air said initial reports describing a “fire in the cockpit” were inaccurate. Smoke was limited to the cabin, and the Federal Aviation Administration corrected an initial report stating otherwise, according to the airline.
Lithium batteries can overheat or catch fire when damaged or defective. Swiss Air has prohibited passengers from using or charging power banks aboard its flights since the beginning of 2026. Passengers may carry no more than two power banks, which must remain on their person, in a seat pocket or in carry-on baggage placed under a seat.
The airline instructs passengers to alert flight attendants immediately if an electronic device becomes hot, emits smoke, is damaged or falls beneath a seat. Its preflight safety video includes the warning, and additional guidance is available on the airline’s electronic devices and batteries webpage.
Swiss said the charging case involved in Monday’s incident had a relatively small battery compared with conventional power banks, which could pose a greater hazard if damaged.
The airline credited the flight’s cockpit and cabin crews with responding quickly and following established safety procedures.
“The entire crew of flight LX16 deserves a big thank-you: They acted immediately, purposefully and correctly,” wrote the airline in a press release. “Safety always comes first for us.”