Articles by Manu Kaushik

Technology

Is your carry-on putting flights at risk? United flight turns back mid-Atlantic after passenger’s lithium-ion laptop slips into inaccessible cargo area

united airlines A United Airlines transatlantic flight bound for Rome made an unusual U-turn and returned to Washington Dulles Airport on Oct. 15 after a passenger’s laptop fell through a gap in the cabin wall and into a portion of the aircraft’s cargo area that the crew could not access, according to air-traffic recordings and airline tracking data. The lithium-ion laptop posed a safety risk to passengers after it fell near a sensitive section of the aircraft.“We have a minor situation here with a passenger who has somehow dropped a laptop that was on … down the sidewall into the cargo pit area of the airplane,” one of the pilots told Air Traffic Control (ATC) when they were notified.Flightradar data indicates that less than an hour into its eight-hour journey on October 15, a United Airlines Boeing 767-400ER executed an unexpected U-turn just off the coast of Boston.“Unfortunately, we’ll need clearance to return to Dulles,” one of the pilots informed Air Traffic Control just before the flight was set to cross the Atlantic Ocean.In the discussion with ATC, the pilots noted that the laptop had been powered on when it fell, and they were uncertain how long its battery would continue running.Live Events“We don’t know the status of it. We can’t access it. We can’t see it. So our decision is to return to Dulles and find this laptop before we can continue over the ocean,” the pilot added.Rather than declaring an emergency, the pilots informed ATC that the situation was purely a precautionary measure.“You know, due to the lithium battery in the cargo area, where it’s actually even … not even near the suppression system that we have for, you know, fires down there. So this is just a safety precaution.”After receiving clearance from ATC to reroute, the aircraft returned to Dulles Airport, landing at 12:35 am, more than two hours after departing for Rome.The laptop was eventually recovered, allowing the plane to refuel and depart again at 3:25 am. The pilots were commended for prioritizing passenger safety, though the flight arrived in Rome roughly five hours later than scheduled.Reflecting on the unusual incident, one ATC controller remarked to the crew, “I’ve never heard anything like that before. Good story to tell at the pilot lounge.” The pilot responded, noting, “That’s a first for me.”Lithium-ion batteries, which power devices such as laptops and smartphones, can pose risks to aircraft if damaged or overheated. As a result, airports and airlines have implemented stricter safety measures, including restrictions on placing such batteries in checked luggage.FAA data shows that lithium battery incidents have been steadily increasing, with the US reporting more than 50 cases just this year.Earlier this month, an Air China flight headed to Seoul had to make an emergency landing in Shanghai after a lithium battery in a passenger’s carry-on caught fire. Reports indicate that the flight crew successfully managed the situation, and no injuries were reported.Add as a Reliable and Trusted News Source Add Now! (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel) Read More News onUnited Airlinestransatlantic flight returnair traffic control incidentairline safety measuresatlantic oceanboeingpassenger safety precautions (Catch all the US News, UK News, Canada News, International Breaking News Events, and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.) Download The Economic Times News App to get Daily International News Updates....moreless (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)Read More News onUnited Airlinestransatlantic flight returnair traffic control incidentairline safety measuresatlantic oceanboeingpassenger safety precautions(Catch all the US News, UK News, Canada News, International Breaking News Events, and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.) Download The Economic Times News App to get Daily International News Updates....moreless Explore More Stories123