29.07.2026 SWISS Newsbrief (LX16): Cause of smoke identified
The day before yesterday, Monday, smoke developed in the cabin on flight LX16 from Zurich to New York. The cockpit crew immediately initiated a diversion to Bangor International Airport, where the aircraft landed safely.
We sent a technical team to Bangor to inspect the aircraft. Our specialists have already been able to determine the cause of the smoke: The investigations conducted so far show that a charging case for headphones slipped into a seat and became jammed there. This damaged the device, causing it to heat up and produce smoke.
It is a standard commercially available storage case that also charges the headphones using a power bank function.
Many electronic devices contain lithium batteries. If these are damaged or malfunction, they can overheat and, in the worst case, cause a fire. This is why strict rules apply on board to electronic devices and, in particular, to power banks. Passengers are responsible for complying with these rules. We would like to take this opportunity to remind you of the most important points:
The use of power banks on board has no longer been permitted on our flights since the beginning of this year.Electronic devices or batteries may therefore no longer be charged using a power bank.Charging a power bank itself is also no longer permitted.Passengers may still bring power banks on board, but no more than two per passenger.These must be kept either on the passenger’s person, in the seat pocket or in carry-on baggage stowed under the seat.Power banks may not be carried in checked baggage or stowed in the overhead compartment.The same rules also apply to e-cigarettes.
In the safety video before departure, we explicitly instruct our passengers to inform the cabin crew immediately if an electronic device becomes hot, emits smoke, is damaged or is lost under the seat. Detailed information on carrying electronic devices can also be found on our website: Electronic devices and batteries (SWISS.com)
In the case of LX16, it was “only” a small charging case with a comparatively low battery capacity. “Actual” power banks have significantly greater capacity. Damage or a malfunction can have considerably more serious consequences in such a case. This makes it all the more important for us to continue raising awareness of this issue. Our passengers share responsibility for safety, and we must be able to rely on them to strictly comply with the rules governing power banks.
The entire crew of flight LX16 deserves a big thank-you: They acted immediately, purposefully and correctly. Safety always comes first for us. This also includes precautionary measures such as diverting a flight in order to respond immediately to potential hazards.
In this situation, our cockpit crew consistently followed the procedures they regularly train for in the simulator. When there is smoke of unknown origin on board, we take no risks. This is why the nearest suitable airport was immediately selected for the diversion and the landing was given high priority as a precaution.
Our Flight Attendants receive comprehensive training that thoroughly covers how to deal with fire, smoke and potentially hazardous items such as power banks. We also carry so-called “Lithium Safe Bags” on every flight. These special fire-resistant bags allow our cabin crew to safely contain devices in the event of overheating or swelling.
Additional clarification regarding flight LX16:
False reports continue to circulate claiming that there was a “fire in the cockpit” on flight LX16. This is in no way accurate: There was explicitly and exclusively smoke in the cabin. It was visible in the forwardmost section of Business Class. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) corrected its initial report stating otherwise shortly after it was published.
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