A Lufthansa flight travelling from Los Angeles to Munich was compelled to divert to Boston due to a safety concern involving a passenger’s iPad that became stuck in a business class seat. The incident occurred on Wednesday, 23 April, about six hours into the 11-hour journey on flight LH453.

The airline confirmed that the trapped tablet showed “visible signs of deformation due to the seat’s movements,” raising concerns about the device potentially overheating. Given the fire risk associated with lithium-ion batteries commonly found in electronic devices such as smartphones and power banks, the flight crew, in consultation with air traffic control, decided to make an unscheduled stop at Boston Logan International Airport as a precaution.

The Airbus A380 had departed from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) at 5.32pm local time before diverting to Boston. Upon arrival, a Lufthansa Technik team met the aircraft to safely remove and inspect the damaged tablet. After the device was dealt with, the flight continued its journey to Munich, arriving at 4.35pm local time, approximately three hours later than originally scheduled.

A Lufthansa spokesperson emphasised the airline’s commitment to passenger and crew safety, stating, “The diversion was a purely precautionary measure.”

This incident underscores ongoing concerns about the risks posed by lithium-ion batteries aboard aircraft. Due to their potential to overheat and cause fires, airlines typically require that devices such as power banks be carried only in cabin baggage, not in checked luggage.

Similar safety precautions have been taken in recent weeks involving electronic devices. Notably, on 21 March, an Air France flight from Paris Orly to Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe, was forced to turn back mid-flight after a passenger reported a lost mobile phone. Despite extensive searches aboard flight AF750, the phone could not be located. The crew returned the aircraft to Paris as a precautionary measure while circling at 31,000 feet, ensuring safety was prioritised.

The Independent is reporting on these aviation safety occurrences, highlighting the vigilance of airlines when it comes to potential hazards related to electronic devices during flights.

Source: Noah Wire Services