BANGOR, Maine (WABI) – A Swiss International Air Lines flight carrying 208 people was diverted to Bangor International Airport Monday due to smoke inside the aircraft. The plane landed safely around noon.
SWISS Air plane landing at the Bangor International Airport on 7/27/26.(WABI)
The airline said the emergency landing was prompted by the presence of smoke in the business class area of the plane. The source of the smoke remains unknown. The FAA said crew had reported a cockpit fire before landing.
No fire found after inspection
Fire crews and first responders were standing by ahead of the landing to assist if needed. SWISS said the local fire department inspected the aircraft after landing and found no signs of fire or heat.
Passengers say they noticed an electrical smell, with one passenger saying they believe it may have come from a seat.
“I was seated behind the section in business class so it was in front of me it was happening. Got kind of intense for five minutes. The pilots were very professional,” said Daniel Eising.
“It was a little scary, we’ve never had that experience before. We prayed and you know we were happy that we had a safe landing. Everyone on the plane was pretty much calm, the crew was very helpful, they gave us an update on the minute,” said Liesl Vince Cruze.
Passengers said they did not have to evacuate on the runway, and the oxygen masks never deployed.
Flight details
The flight departed from Zurich and was en route to John F. Kennedy International Airport when it was diverted, according to FlightAware. The aircraft is an Airbus A330.
The emergency landing closed the runway for a time, causing delays for other flights Monday. The runway has since reopened.
Airline response
The company is working to arrange onward travel for affected customers.
“We are aware that a diversion prompted by such circumstances can be unsettling for our passengers and cause uncertainty. This makes it all the more important to us to provide them with the best possible care and support them with their onward travel,” SWISS spokesperson Michael Pelzer told WABI. “Our teams in Switzerland and the United States are currently working at full speed to arrange onward travel for our passengers. We are coordinating closely with Bangor International Airport and are doing everything we can to find a suitable solution for everyone affected as quickly as possible.”
Pelzer added that the aircraft will be thoroughly inspected by their experts, and they will not speculate on the cause of the smoke.
At last check, passengers were still waiting for another SWISS flight to take them on to New York. The FAA will investigate the incident.
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