Swiss flight LX52, en route from Zurich to Boston on Aug. 9, diverted to Dublin after smoke in the cabin was traced to a passenger power bank. The Airbus A330-300 landed safely; all 206 passengers were housed overnight while Swiss arranges onward travel. Technicians will inspect the aircraft before it returns to Zurich. The event follows a July 27 diversion when smoke from a headphone charging case forced a Swiss flight to land in Maine.
Swiss Flight to Boston Diverts to Dublin After Power Bank Sparks Smoke Onboard
Stock image of Swiss International Air Lines plane preparing for landing in 2025Credit: Horacio Villalobos#Corbis/Corbis via Getty
An international Swiss International Air Lines flight bound for Boston was diverted to Dublin on Aug. 9 after crew reported smoke in the cabin that airline investigators traced to a passenger power bank.
Swiss flight LX52 departed Zurich Airport at about 6:30 p.m. local time on Sunday aboard an Airbus A330-300 and was scheduled to arrive at Boston Logan International Airport more than eight hours later. While flying over the Atlantic, the cockpit crew declared an emergency and requested priority to land in Ireland, according to FlightAware and a statement from the carrier.
Dublin Airport in IrelandCredit: Getty
"The cockpit crew of flight LX52 from Zurich to Boston diverted to Dublin Airport in Ireland," a Swiss Air Lines spokesperson said. "The reason was smoke on board, which was caused by a power bank."
The aircraft landed safely at Dublin Airport after roughly five more hours in the air, per FlightAware. Swiss said all 206 passengers were accommodated overnight in hotels while the carrier arranges onward travel. Technicians will carry out a thorough inspection of the aircraft before it is returned to Zurich.
Background and Safety Context
This incident comes less than two weeks after Swiss flight LX16 — bound for New York from Zurich on July 27 — diverted to Bangor, Maine, after smoke in the cabin was later attributed to a headphone charging case that had slipped into a seat and become jammed, damaging the device and causing it to overheat.
Headphone charging case determined to be the cause of smoke on a July 27 Swiss flight to New York.Credit: Swiss.com
Swiss has used the earlier event to remind passengers that lithium-ion batteries and power banks can present a fire risk if damaged, improperly stored, or allowed to overheat. The carrier requires power banks to be carried in the cabin (on a passenger's person, in the seat pocket, or in carry-on luggage stowed under the seat) and has introduced restrictions on their use aboard aircraft this year.
U.S. authorities have recorded multiple incidents involving lithium batteries: the Federal Aviation Administration reported 58 aviation incidents this year in which lithium batteries were involved in cargo or baggage, compared with 97 such incidents last year.
What Passengers Should Know
Airlines and regulators advise carrying spare batteries and power banks in the cabin rather than in checked baggage, protecting devices from damage, and following airline rules about charging and use during flight. In cases of smoke or suspected battery overheating, crew members are trained to secure the device, declare an emergency if needed, and divert to the nearest suitable airport to protect passengers and crew.
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