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Swiss flight LX9 issues distress call and lands in the Azores

A Swiss aircraft issued a distress signal over the Atlantic on Tuesday morning and had to land on the Azorean island of Terceira.

25 August 2026Tagblick Newsdesk

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Archive photo: Swiss flight LX9 issues distress call and lands in the Azores — Archive photoPhoto: Anna Zvereva from Tallinn, Estonia · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0

On Tuesday morning, Swiss flight LX9 from Chicago to Zurich issued a distress call using the 7700 code while over the Atlantic. The reasons for the distress signal remain unclear, according to multiple sources.

The aircraft, a Boeing 777 with the registration number HB-JNF, then changed its course and landed on the Azorean island of Terceira. This was confirmed by radar data indicating a landing maneuver.

According to information from Tages-Anzeiger, a chemical smell onboard the aircraft was the reason for the distress signal. However, it is still being investigated how serious the situation actually was and what measures need to be taken.

The landing in Terceira was conducted as an emergency landing to ensure the safety of the passengers and crew. There is currently no information available regarding any potential injuries, and the passengers were reportedly evacuated safely.

Zurich Airport has been informed about the incident, and it remains to be seen what further information will emerge regarding the situation onboard and the circumstances surrounding the emergency landing.

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