SWISS flight from Chicago to Zurich makes emergency landing over "pungent odour"

A Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) flight LX9 travelling from Chicago to Zurich on Tuesday, August 25, made an emergency diversion because of a strange chemical smell in economy class. The plane landed safely in the Azores.

SWISS Flight LX9 diverted to the Azores

Switzerland’s flagship airline SWISS has confirmed that a flight on its way back to Switzerland made an emergency diversion over the Atlantic on Tuesday morning. After making a distress call, the plane landed safely at Lajes Airport on the Portuguese island of Terceira at 6.30am local time. 

The reason for the emergency diversion was an “unidentifiable, pungent odour” in the cabin of the Boeing 777, SWISS confirmed. All 222 passengers and 16 crew members left the plane safely after it landed.

Five passengers and one member of the crew “underwent precautionary medical examinations” after experiencing eye irritation, nausea and headaches, but needed no further medical treatment, reports Watson.

Specialists to inspect affected aircraft

SWISS explained that it “cannot say with certainty what caused the pungent odour” and that “experts will thoroughly inspect the aircraft.” 

The airline cancelled scheduled flights due to operate with the 777 aircraft between Zurich and Chicago. Alternative flights were arranged so all passengers could travel home and no one was left stranded. 

In a news briefing, SWISS reaffirmed that “the wellbeing of our passengers and crew is our top priority” and recognised that “a diversion of this kind can be unsettling” and “cause uncertainty.”