United Airlines flight with 157 passengers got diverted to Ireland after a laptop became stuck in a business-class seat

A United Airlines flight from Zurich to Chicago was diverted to Shannon, Ireland, after a passenger's laptop became stuck in a business class seat. The incident occurred about 500 miles over the Atlantic, prompting concerns over safety due to the potential fire hazard from the laptop's lithium battery. Although the laptop was eventually freed by engineers, the delay caused the flight crew to exceed their legal operating hours, resulting in a forced overnight stay for the 157 passengers.

The specific safety risk that prompted the diversion of the United Airlines flight from Zurich to Chicago was a laptop becoming stuck in a business-class seat. The concern was that the lithium-ion battery in the laptop could potentially catch fire, posing a risk to the aircraft and its passengers. This is the reason why flight attendants advise passengers not to move their seats if a device falls into or under it, as damage to the batteries can cause significant smoke and heat.