On Monday 27 July, a Swiss International Airlines Airbus A330-300 departing from Zurich and bound for New York made an emergency landing in Bangor, Maine, after the crew reported the presence of smoke on board. According to what was reconstructed by the specialized newspaper “The Aviation Herald”, the aircraft was en route at an altitude of 32,000 feet (9,750 metres) approximately 100 nautical miles south-east of Bangor when the crew reported to air traffic controls “an active fire in the cockpit, impossible to put out”.
Landing in Bangor, safely
The airline, however, denied this version, reporting instead “a formation of smoke of uncertain origin in the most front part of the business class”. The plane then landed on Runway 33 at Bangor about 25 minutes after leaving cruising altitude, stopped at the end of the runway and shut down both engines. The crew asked emergency services to come on board with infrared equipment for an internal check. Firefighters entered through door L1, but were unable to locate the source of the smoke: there were no flames or heat sources.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reconstructed what happened as follows: “Swiss International Air Lines Flight 16F landed safely at Bangor International Airport, Maine, around noon on Monday, July 27, after the crew reported the presence of smoke in the cabin. The Airbus A330 was traveling from Zurich, Switzerland, to JFK International Airport in New York. The FAA will launch an investigation”,
The passengers and the burning smell on board
Several travelers told Maine broadcaster Wabi-TV that they smelled an electrical burning smell on board and one of them speculated that it could have come from a seat.
“I was sitting right behind the Business Class section, so what happened was in front of me,” a passenger told local TV. “There was a tense moment that lasted about five minutes, but the pilots were extremely professional.”
A moment of apprehension also confirmed by another traveller: “It was a bit scary, we had never had an experience like this. We prayed and were really happy to have landed safely. Everyone on board remained quite calm and the crew was very helpful, keeping us updated minute by minute.”