Overview
- A Lufthansa A321 was diverted to Lyon after a passenger’s powerbank ignited on Saturday, Sept. 26, and cabin crew secured the device in a lithium Safe Bag before the aircraft landed.
- No passengers or crew were hurt and the 198 passengers were housed overnight and rebooked onto flights to Lisbon the following day.
- Regulators and airlines require lithium‑ion power sources to travel in carry‑on only, with common energy limits of 100 Wh per device and 100–160 Wh allowed only with airline approval, and the Lufthansa Group has banned in‑flight use of powerbanks since 15 January 2026.
- Safety experts say lithium‑ion cells can suffer a rapid thermal runaway that produces extreme heat, dense smoke and possible re‑ignition, which makes such fires hard to control in flight.
- Incidents involving powerbanks have risen in recent years, authorities and TÜV advise buying certified units, keeping devices visible and undamaged, and disposing of swollen or hot batteries to reduce the risk and blunt further operational disruptions.