The plane had to make an emergency landing because of a laptop

The reason the captain had to make this decision was because a business class passenger's laptop was stuck in the seat.

Ground engineers were present on the plane to remove the laptop from the seat, immediately after the plane landed. After successfully removing the laptop, the flight crew also reached the maximum working time according to regulations of United Airlines, which provided hotels for passengers to stay in Ireland before continuing their journey across the country. Atlantic Ocean the next day.

Having a smartphone, tablet or laptop stuck in an airplane seat is a situation that can threaten flight safety because the lithium-ion batteries on these devices can catch fire or explode due to pressure. when stuck. This is also the reason why airlines require passengers not to leave devices with lithium-ion batteries in checked baggage, to avoid the lithium-ion battery being compressed, which can lead to fire or explosion.

Continuing to fly across the Atlantic with a laptop stuck in the passenger seat could potentially lead to a fire without a landing spot. Therefore, instead of continuing the journey with too great risk, the flight captain decided to change direction and make an emergency landing.

It is not a rare case for a smartphone, tablet or laptop to get stuck in an airplane seat. In 2016, a Delta airline plane also had to make an emergency landing at Manchester Airport, England, while on a journey from the US to the Netherlands because of a Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 tablet belonging to the passenger. Passengers trapped behind the seats were smoking and emitting a strange odor that affected passengers in the cabin.

Marvin Fry

Update 24 May 2024