This is still a problem on Thunderbird 52.8.0 64 bit..
I interrupted runningg "sudo apport-collect 1215524" after a minute because it didn't do anything in my browser (Chrome as I no longer use Firefox; it didn't launch Firefox either). Terminal output was:
The authorization page:
 (https://launchpad.net/+authorize-token?oauth_token=hClqm74TDBP0wZ94dJmr&allow_permission=DESKTOP_INTEGRATION)
should be opening in your browser. Use your browser to authorize
this program to access Launchpad on your behalf.
Waiting to hear from Launchpad about your decision...
[24718:24718:0706/200731.108080:ERROR:zygote_host_impl_linux.cc(88)] Running as root without --no-sandbox is not supported. See https://crbug.com/638180.
[24731:24731:0706/200731.293842:ERROR:zygote_host_impl_linux.cc(88)] Running as root without --no-sandbox is not supported. See https://crbug.com/638180.
Running Firefox as root in a regular user's session is not supported.  ($HOME is /home/john which is owned by john.)
/usr/bin/xdg-open: 778: /usr/bin/xdg-open: iceweasel: not found
/usr/bin/xdg-open: 778: /usr/bin/xdg-open: seamonkey: not found
/usr/bin/xdg-open: 778: /usr/bin/xdg-open: mozilla: not found
/usr/bin/xdg-open: 778: /usr/bin/xdg-open: epiphany: not found
/usr/bin/xdg-open: 778: /usr/bin/xdg-open: konqueror: not found
[24757:24757:0706/200731.876044:ERROR:zygote_host_impl_linux.cc(88)] Running as root without --no-sandbox is not supported. See https://crbug.com/638180.
[24767:24767:0706/200732.063199:ERROR:zygote_host_impl_linux.cc(88)] Running as root without --no-sandbox is not supported. See https://crbug.com/638180.
/usr/bin/xdg-open: 778: /usr/bin/xdg-open: www-browser: not found
/usr/bin/xdg-open: 778: /usr/bin/xdg-open: links2: not found
/usr/bin/xdg-open: 778: /usr/bin/xdg-open: elinks: not found
/usr/bin/xdg-open: 778: /usr/bin/xdg-open: links: not found
/usr/bin/xdg-open: 778: /usr/bin/xdg-open: lynx: not found
/usr/bin/xdg-open: 778: /usr/bin/xdg-open: w3m: not found
xdg-open: no method available for opening 'https://launchpad.net/+authorize-token?oauth_token=hClqm74TDBP0wZ94dJmr&allow_permission=DESKTOP_INTEGRATION'
^CTraceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/share/apport/apport-gtk", line 597, in <module>
    app.run_argv()
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/apport/ui.py", line 659, in run_argv
    return self.run_update_report()
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/apport/ui.py", line 505, in run_update_report
    if not self.crashdb.can_update(self.options.update_report):
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/apport/crashdb_impl/launchpad.py", line 521, in can_update
    bug = self.launchpad.bugs[id]
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/apport/crashdb_impl/launchpad.py", line 160, in launchpad
    version='1.0')
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/launchpadlib/launchpad.py", line 544, in login_with
    credential_save_failed, version)
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/launchpadlib/launchpad.py", line 351, in _authorize_token_and_login
    credentials = authorization_engine(credentials, credential_store)
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/launchpadlib/credentials.py", line 547, in __call__
    self.make_end_user_authorize_token(credentials, request_token_string)
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/launchpadlib/credentials.py", line 657, in make_end_user_authorize_token
    time.sleep(access_token_poll_time)
KeyboardInterrupt

Attached is content of Error Console after running the apport-collect command and then deleting a message.