ZURICH- Swiss International Air Lines (LX) flight LX9 from Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) to Zurich Airport (ZRH) issued a distress call over the Atlantic on Tuesday after a chemical odor was detected onboard.
The Swiss (LX) Boeing 777 diverted to the Azores as a precaution, carrying 222 passengers and 16 crew members. The airline confirmed that the aircraft made an alternate landing after the crew reported the odor.
Swiss LX9 Diverts From Chicago to Zurich
Swiss flight LX9 was operating from Chicago to Zurich when the crew detected a chemical odor inside the aircraft. The crew subsequently issued a distress call while the Boeing 777 was over the Atlantic.
The aircraft diverted to the Azores, where it completed an alternate landing. Swiss confirmed the diversion and said the decision followed the reported chemical odor onboard.
According to Swiss Chief Operating Officer Oliver Buchhofer, the aircraft was carrying 222 passengers and 16 crew members at the time of the incident.
Buchhofer confirmed the diversion while speaking to media in Zurich on Tuesday. He did not provide further details about what caused the chemical odor.
Boeing 777 Diverts to the Azores
The affected aircraft is a Boeing 777-300ER, a long-range twin-engine aircraft used by Swiss on several intercontinental routes.
Flight-tracking information shown in the provided data identifies the aircraft as HB-JNF, with aircraft type Boeing 777-3DE(ER). The aircraft is listed as approximately 10 years old.
The flight departed Chicago later than its scheduled departure time. The tracking information shows a scheduled departure of 7:05 p.m. local time and an actual departure of 7:34 p.m.
The aircraft was subsequently diverted to the Azores after the crew reported the chemical odor and issued the distress call.
Passengers Expected to Continue to Switzerland
Swiss said it planned to bring the affected passengers back to Switzerland on Tuesday.
Buchhofer said the airline intended to send one of its own aircraft to the Azores during the afternoon to transport the passengers onward. He expressed hope that the airline would return to Switzerland with the affected passengers the same evening.
The arrangement is intended to minimize the disruption caused by the unscheduled landing and allow passengers to continue their journey to Zurich.
Cause of Chemical Odor Remains Unclear
Swiss has not disclosed the source of the chemical odor. Buchhofer also did not provide additional information about the nature of the odor or whether it was linked to any specific aircraft system.
The available information confirms that the crew responded by diverting the aircraft to the Azores, but it does not establish the underlying cause of the odor.
Further details could emerge as Swiss assesses the aircraft and reviews the circumstances surrounding the diversion.
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