A mid-flight emergency unfolded on Saturday (Oct. 18) when a lithium battery suddenly burst into flames inside a passenger’s carry-on bag during an Air China flight from Hangzhou (HGH) to Seoul Incheon (ICN), a stark reminder of recent warnings about this type of battery in flight.
The Airbus A321 was about 20 minutes into the flight after departing shortly before 10am local time. The battery was stored in an overhead bin when it “spontaneously ignited,” as described by a passenger. The crew sprang into action and doused the flames, said the airline. Whether the ignited battery was spare or in a device remains unclear. Social media videos show the fiery bin releasing smoke throughout the cabin, startling passengers.
The aircraft made an emergency landing at Shanghai Pudong International Airport. There were no injuries, the airline said. Flightradar24 data shows Air China provided a replacement aircraft to transport passengers to Seoul.
The fire comes just months after China rushed to ban certain portable batteries inflight, a direct response to mounting safety concerns. It’s no isolated incident either: millions of lithium batteries, powering everything from smartphones to laptops, chargers and e-cigarettes, have been yanked from the market in recent years when they proved to be potential potential fire hazards.
Governments and airlines have tightened rules on the batteries this year, regulating where they can be stored on planes. Across the US, these batteries are mostly off-limits in checked luggage—unless your device is completely powered down.
Meanwhile, China took its own approach, banning passengers from bringing portable batteries without proper Chinese safety certificates on domestic flights, deeming them too risky. Interestingly, their rules don’t extend to removable batteries—the culprit behind Saturday’s alarming airline fire.
As of Oct. 1, Emirates passengers have been banned from using phone power banks due to concerns over fires.
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