Pax Sentinel - Yet Another Power Bank Fire Diverts Lufthansa Flight to Lyon

A Lufthansa flight operating from Frankfurt to Lisbon on Saturday, September 26, 2026, was diverted to Lyon, France, after a passenger's power bank caught fire. The incident occurred on board an Airbus A321-200 carrying 198 passengers. Crew members secured the ignited battery in a specialized protective bag designed for lithium batteries. No injuries were reported among passengers or crew. The pilot initiated the diversion to Lyon as a precautionary measure, and the aircraft landed without further incident. Passengers continued their journey on Sunday, September 27, after an overnight stay in a hotel. A Lufthansa spokesperson stated that "The safety of our passengers and crews remains Lufthansa's top priority at all times." Since January 2026, Lufthansa has prohibited the use and charging of external batteries on its aircraft. This measure was implemented as the [Lufthansa Group enacted a comprehensive ban on the usage of power banks](/en/article/YwylCvt5_lufthansa-group-implements-total-usage-ban-and-property-seizures-for-power-banks), including confiscation of unlabelled devices. However, passengers are permitted to carry up to two power banks in the cabin, subject to specific safety conditions. This incident involved an item allowed within the cabin under these conditions. This incident mirrors previous occurrences within the Lufthansa Group, where portable electronic devices have posed onboard risks. In August, a [SWISS flight diverted to Dublin after a power bank smoke incident](/en/article/dXSPxnff_mayday-over-atlantic-forces-swiss-flight-to-dublin), and another instance involved a [crushed charging case that triggered an emergency landing](/en/article/CbFj6mMP_crushed-charging-case-triggers-transatlantic-emergency-landing), highlighting ongoing challenges with battery safety protocols.