A Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt to Lisbon was diverted to Lyon, France, after a passenger’s power bank caught fire midair, prompting the crew to take immediate safety measures.
The incident occurred on Saturday aboard an Airbus A321-200 carrying 198 passengers as the aircraft was travelling to the Portuguese capital.
According to Lufthansa, the crew quickly secured the burning battery inside a protective bag specially designed for lithium batteries. No passenger or crew member was injured in the incident.
As a precaution, the pilot decided to divert the flight to Lyon, where the aircraft landed safely without further incident.
The passengers subsequently spent the night in a hotel and resumed their journey to Lisbon on Sunday.
“The safety of our passengers and crews remains Lufthansa’s top priority at all times,” the airline said.
The incident highlights ongoing aviation concerns surrounding lithium batteries and power banks, which can overheat and pose a fire risk when damaged or malfunctioning.
Lufthansa has prohibited the use and charging of external batteries on its aircraft since January, although passengers are still permitted to carry up to two power banks in the cabin, subject to the airline’s safety conditions.
The airline’s policy is part of broader efforts to reduce the risks associated with lithium batteries during flights, particularly because a battery fire inside an aircraft can require immediate containment and response by cabin crew.