Additional Coverage:
- A flight carrying hundreds had to divert after someone’s tablet got stuck in a business class seat (businessinsider.com)
A Tablet’s Tight Squeeze Causes Transatlantic Flight Diversion
A Lufthansa flight from Los Angeles to Munich experienced an unexpected detour Wednesday after a passenger’s tablet became lodged in a business class seat. The Airbus A380, carrying 461 passengers, was about three hours into its journey when the pilots made the decision to divert to Boston Logan International Airport.
According to a Lufthansa spokesperson, the tablet was visibly damaged from being crushed by the seat’s movements. Concerns arose about the potential for the lithium battery to overheat, prompting the crew and air traffic control to divert the flight as a precautionary measure. Damaged lithium batteries can pose a significant fire risk.
Upon landing in Boston, a Lufthansa Technik team safely removed and inspected the tablet. The flight then continued to Munich, arriving approximately three hours later than scheduled.
The incident highlights the potential hazards of damaged lithium batteries, particularly within the confined space of an aircraft cabin.