A Lufthansa Airbus A380 en route from Los Angeles to Munich had to make an unscheduled stop in Boston this week due to a passenger's tablet becoming trapped in a business class seat. The airline decided to divert the flight as a precautionary measure due to safety concerns that the device might overheat, which could pose a fire risk.
The Lufthansa aircraft, on flight LH453, typically operates daily between Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Munich Airport (MUC). On April 23rd, the plane departed slightly behind schedule from Los Angeles and was cruising over Canada when it was decided to divert to Boston Logan International Airport.
A Lufthansa spokesperson explained, "To eliminate any potential risk, particularly with regard to possible overheating, the cockpit crew and air traffic control jointly decided - as a precaution - to divert the flight to Boston." Upon arrival, Lufthansa Technik staff safely removed and inspected the damaged tablet.