A Boeing 767 United Airlines flight had to divert back to Shannon, Ireland after a laptop got stuck in a business class seat, causing the flight crew to time out and passengers to stay overnight. The incident occurred approximately 500 miles over the Atlantic Ocean. Engineers were called upon to free the laptop before the passengers could continue their journey to Chicago. Due to safety concerns, the flight was diverted.
United Airlines provided hotels for customers and arranged for an onward flight to Chicago the following day. It is common for devices like laptops and phones to get wedged in seats, posing a safety risk due to lithium batteries potentially catching fire. This is why airline safety videos advise passengers to keep such devices in their carry-on luggage rather than checked bags. Continuing the flight over the Atlantic with the laptop stuck in the seat could have been risky since there would not have been a convenient place to land in case of a fire.
In a similar incident, a Breeze Airways flight had to make an emergency landing due to a laptop catching fire while en route from Los Angeles to Pittsburgh. This emphasizes the importance of following safety guidelines to prevent potentially dangerous situations while flying.
