Lufthansa Flight LH1170 Diverts to Lyon After Power Bank Catches Fire

Lufthansa flight LH1170 diverted to Lyon, France, after a passenger’s power bank caught fire during a flight from Frankfurt to Lisbon on Saturday evening, September 26.

The aircraft, carrying 198 passengers and six crew members, landed safely. Lufthansa confirmed the incident to German news agency dpa.

Cabin crew secure burning power bank

The airline said the device caught fire near a passenger seat. Cabin crew secured it inside a specialist lithium battery safety bag.

The pilots diverted to Lyon as a safety precaution, interrupting the journey to the Portuguese capital.

Passengers accommodated overnight

Lufthansa arranged hotel accommodation for the passengers and rebooked them onto alternative flights to Lisbon for Sunday, September 27.

The airline’s current rules prohibit passengers from using or charging power banks during flights, apart from an exception for approved medical devices. Power banks must remain in the cabin and cannot be placed in checked baggage.

Source: dpa-AFX, via MarketScreener. MarketScreener