Emergency Crews Forced to Dismantle Train After Man Searching for His AirPod Became Trapped

A man in Germany sparked a major rescue operation after getting his hand trapped under a train armrest while trying to retrieve a lost AirPod.

The incident occurred at Lehrte station in north-central Germany, where a passenger reportedly dropped his wireless earbud and reached under a seat in an attempt to retrieve it, according to WVTM 13. What began as a minor mishap quickly escalated as his hand became stuck and began to swell, complicating efforts to free him.

Emergency responders were called to the scene Friday evening and soon realized that simple tools would not suffice. Firefighters dismantled nearby seats and a luggage rack before ultimately sawing through the armrest and using hydraulic equipment to complete the rescue. The man remained stuck for about 90 minutes.

The rescued passenger was turned over to emergency medical services—AirPod in hand—and treated for injuries. The situation drew a crowd of onlookers, prompting police to intervene and block public view with a rescue blanket to prevent photos from being taken.

The disruption led to the evacuation of the train, with a replacement service deployed to continue the passengers' journey. In total, 11 firefighters and two vehicles were used in the rescue.