An external battery belonging to a passenger caught fire on board a Lufthansa flight carrying 198 passengers, leading to the aircraft being diverted to Lyon, France, without causing any injuries. The incident occurred on flight LH1170, an Airbus A321-200 en route from Frankfurt to Lisbon. According to a Lufthansa spokesperson, the crew secured the battery in a protective bag designed for lithium batteries. For safety reasons, the pilots decided to divert to Lyon and declared an emergency to get priority for landing. The aircraft landed without incident shortly before 20:00 GMT. The passengers disembarked normally, and no injuries were reported. The 198 passengers and six crew members were accommodated at a hotel before being rerouted to Lisbon on Sunday. Lufthansa expressed regret over the situation and the travel disruption, emphasizing that the safety of passengers and crew is its absolute priority. Since January 2026, Lufthansa has prohibited the use and charging of external batteries on its aircraft, although passengers are allowed to carry up to two in the cabin under certain safety conditions. Separately, an aircraft from Delta Air Lines made an emergency landing at Porto airport in northern Portugal after smoke was detected in the cabin. The plane had departed from Barcelona bound for Boston and was carrying 296 passengers. Four passengers received "minor injuries" after inhaling smoke and were hospitalized, while 14 passengers received assistance. The cause of the incident was not known, according to rescue services. Both incidents highlight the potential risks associated with electronic devices on board aircraft and the importance of safety protocols in aviation. Airlines continue to implement and update policies to manage such risks and ensure the well-being of all those on board.