Lufthansa Flight Diverted After Passenger’s Power Bank Catches Fire Midair

LYON, Sept. 27, 2026 — A Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt to Lisbon was diverted to Lyon, France, on Saturday after a passenger’s power bank caught fire mid-air, the airline has confirmed.

Findings show the incident occurred aboard an Airbus A321-200 carrying 198 passengers as it made its way to the Portuguese capital, when the battery began overheating and igniting near a passenger’s seat.

Crew Moves Fast to Contain the Fire

A Lufthansa spokesperson said cabin crew immediately secured the battery inside a protective bag specially designed for lithium-battery fires, and no one on board was injured.

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The pilot subsequently opted to divert to Lyon as a precaution, and the aircraft landed without further incident at approximately 10:00 p.m. local time.

A Night in Lyon Before Resuming the Journey

Passengers were put up in a hotel overnight 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 in a statement.

Part of a Wider Crackdown on Power Banks

Checks by ValidViewNetwork confirm Lufthansa Group has tightened its rules on power banks in recent years, banning their use and charging onboard its aircraft since January, even though passengers are still permitted to carry up to two power banks in the cabin under specific safety conditions.

The airline’s policy also bars storing such devices in checked baggage, given the difficulty of detecting and controlling a battery fire in the cargo hold. ValidViewNetwork reports.