Lufthansa flight carrying hundreds from LA to Munich diverted after iPad debacle

By LAUREN ACTON-TAYLOR FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

Published: 01:17 BST, 27 April 2025 | Updated: 02:03 BST, 27 April 2025

A Lufthansa flight carrying over 400 passengers from Los Angeles to Munich was forced to divert after a passenger’s iPad became ‘jammed’ in a seat. 

The flight took off from LA late on Wednesday bound for Germany but diverted to Logan International Airport in Boston after an iPad became ‘jammed in a Business Class’ seat. 

‘Flight crew and air traffic controllers became concerned that the iPad would overheat and cause a fire, after it was already showing visible signs of deformation due to the seat’s movements,’ WCVB reported. 

The Airbus A380 landed in Boston around 2.30am on Thursday, where an airline technical team member removed the iPad. 

Lufthansa told the outlet that the diversion of Flight LH453 was ‘a purely precautionary measure’ for passenger safety.

‘At Lufthansa, the safety of our passengers and crew is always our top priority,’ the airline said, Business Insider reported. 

The diversion resulted in a three-hour delay for the 461 passengers on board, who then landed in Munich at 4.35pm local time. 

Lithium batteries used in iPads can pose a serious fire risk to passengers on board if the device becomes damaged. 

Flight LH453 took off from LA late on Wednesday bound for Munich but diverted to Logan International Airport 

A passenger’s iPad became ‘jammed in a Business Class seat,’ as flight crews feared the tablet may overheat and set alight

Flight crew and air traffic controllers became concerned that the iPad would overheat and cause a fire, after it was already showing visible signs of deformation due to the seat’s movements’

A United Airlines flight in 2023 to Newark Airport in New Jersey was forced to return to San Diego Airport after a passenger’s laptop burst into flames. 

Four flight attendants working in the cabin of the United Airlines Boeing 737 prevented the blaze from spreading further as they put out the flames with fire extinguishers.

Their heroic efforts led to them suffering smoke inhalation as they put out the fire. The four attendants were taken to hospital for treatment following the emergency landing.

It is not clear what caused the battery to ignite just after the flight, with 159 passengers, took off at 7:15am. Just 11 minutes later, the plane was back on the ground.

The situation would have been all the more perilous had the battery pack been within checked baggage and not in the main cabin.

‘Shortly after departure, the aircraft declared an Alert 2 which indicates a major difficulty with the aircraft, in this case there was an electrical device fire in the cabin,’ a statement from San Diego Airport read.

‘The aircraft landed safely at San Diego International Airport where emergency crews responded to the aircraft and assisted passengers.’

A passenger on board the flight, Caroline Lipinski, saw everything happen from her seat.

The diversion to Logan Airport in Boston resulted in a three-hour delay for the 461 passengers on board, who then landed in Munich at 4.35pm local time

A United Airlines flight bound for Newark had to return to San Diego due to a cabin fire caused by an external battery. Fire engines could be seen parked at the side of the aircraft

‘There was a gentleman whose bag was smoking and he threw something out on the ground. It was a battery charger or a pack from his laptop and it burst into flames.’

‘I heard somebody yell “fire” I looked forward and could see the glow,’ said another traveler. 

Lithium battery fires on US flights have risen 388 percent since 2015, CBS News reported, with airline flight fires cause by the batteries occurring nearly twice a week on average.

The primary cause was reported to have been from power banks, accounting for 43 percent of all reports.  

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Lufthansa flight carrying hundreds from LA to Munich diverted after iPad debacle

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