- Swiss Air Flight LX52 issued a Mayday call off the Kerry coast on August 9, 2026
- A passenger’s portable power bank became stuck in a seat and began overheating
- Valentia Coast Guard and Fenit RNLI were placed on high alert during the incident
- The flight crew downgraded the alert to PAN-PAN after locating the device
- The aircraft landed safely at Dublin Airport around 23:00 with no injuries reported
Swiss International Air Lines Flight LX52 has issued an emergency Mayday call off the Kerry coast on Sunday, August 9, 2026, after a passenger’s portable power bank has become stuck in a seat and has begun to overheat and emit smoke. The Boston-bound Airbus A330-343 has been carrying 206 passengers and 12 crew members at the time of the incident. The Valentia Coast Guard Station has placed rescue services on high alert and the Fenit RNLI all-weather lifeboat has rushed to Tralee Bay in response to the emergency declaration.
The flight crew located the smoking device and downgraded the call to a PAN-PAN, signalling that the situation no longer posed an immediate threat to the aircraft. The aircraft initially headed for Shannon Airport but the flight crew changed course to Dublin Airport instead. The plane landed safely in Dublin around 23:00, with emergency crews meeting the aircraft on the runway. No injuries were reported among passengers or crew members.
Passengers stayed in hotels overnight before resuming their travel arrangements. The incident has raised questions about the carriage of lithium batteries in passenger cabins and the protocols for managing thermal runaway events on commercial aircraft. Aviation authorities have confirmed that the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the power bank failure will continue in the coming days.
Swiss Air shared: “The flight crew followed standard operating procedures for smoke events and the aircraft landed without incident at Dublin Airport.”
