As more passengers travel with multiple electronic devices and spare power banks, one of aviation’s quieter hazards has become more visible: lithium-ion batteries. These compact energy packs power phones, tablets, cameras, and external chargers — yet when they malfunction, damage, or short-circuit, they can enter thermal runaway, triggering smoke, fire, or rapid heat escalation.
Below are five notable recent incidents in which battery-related fires forced aircraft diversions, evacuations, or even destruction. Each provides a lesson in how crew, airline policy, and passenger behaviour converge in modern flight safety.
1. Air China Flight CA139 (Hangzhou → Seoul) – October 18 2025
An Airbus A321 operated by Air China departed Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport bound for Seoul Incheon when, about 40 minutes into flight, a lithium battery inside a passenger’s carry-on bag stored in an overhead bin spontaneously ignited. The aircraft diverted to Shanghai Pudong International Airport, where all passengers and crew disembarked safely with no injuries reported.
Dramatic video footage shows smoke and flames emanating from the overhead compartment as cabin crew rushed to extinguish the blaze. The airline confirmed the fire started in a passenger’s carry-on bag. The incident underscores how even a single device in a carry-on can trigger an in-flight emergency — and how quick crew response prevented escalation.
2. Air Busan Flight BX391 (Busan → Hong Kong) – January 28 2025
While preparing for take-off at Gimhae International Airport (Busan, South Korea), an Airbus A321 registered HL7763 caught fire in an overhead luggage compartment above row 30. All 169 passengers and 7 crew evacuated safely. The preliminary report into the incident confirmed that three passengers sustained major and 24 sustained minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Image: Preliminary Report, Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board (ARAIB)
Investigators determined that the likely cause was a portable power bank (lithium-battery pack) in a carry-on bag stored overhead. Following the event, South Korea’s transport ministry announced that, effective March 1 2025, power banks and e-cigarettes must be kept with passengers (not in overhead bins), and battery packs over 160 Wh are prohibited.
3. China Southern Airlines Flight CZ6850 (Hangzhou → Shenzhen) – May 31 2025
Shortly after take-off, smoke was detected in the cabin. A power bank and a camera battery were identified as the source, prompting the Airbus A320 to return to Hangzhou for an emergency landing. While the cabin was filled with smoke, no injuries were reported.
Image: Screenshot from a video viral on X (Formerly Twitter)
Though minor compared to other incidents, the event adds to a growing pattern of carry-on battery fires within Chinese domestic flights , indicating that even short-haul operations are vulnerable to electronic device failures.
4. Virgin Australia Flight VA1528 (Sydney → Hobart) – July 21, 2025
On descent into Hobart, a fire broke out in an overhead locker in a Virgin Australia aircraft, believed to have been caused by a passenger’s power bank. The cabin crew used onboard fire extinguishers and water to put out the fire. Airport firefighters met the plane upon landing and removed the affected luggage. No major injuries were reported, but several passengers were treated for smoke inhalation.
Image: Credited to Pulse Tasmania
The incident reinforces that this is a global issue that is recurring across airlines and continents, often involving the same trigger: a portable power bank in cabin baggage.
5. Delta Air Lines Flight DL1334 (Atlanta → Fort Lauderdale) – July 2025
A portable battery device inside a carry-on bag caught fire during flight. The crew used a containment bag and diverted the plane to Fort Myers, Florida. No serious injuries occurred, but the event underlined the increasing number of battery-fire incidents reported to the FAA each year. Since 2022, close to 300 cases have been recorded in U.S. airspace alone.
Common Threads and Takeaways
From Seoul to Sydney, Hangzhou to Atlanta, these incidents prove a simple truth: the devices we bring on board are now part of the aviation-safety equation. Lithium batteries have enabled modern connectivity and at the same time, introduced new risks.
If we look at these incidents, some common threads emerge:
- Power banks dominate: Most incidents involve spare or external batteries, not installed device cells.
- Cabin fires, not cargo: Every case occurred in the passenger cabin, reinforcing why lithium batteries are banned from checked luggage.
- Visibility matters: Devices stowed overhead delay detection. Airlines such as Emirates and Korean carriers now prefer under-seat placement.
- Policy evolution: Regulators are moving fast — from South Korea’s new restrictions to Emirates’ rule set — treating passenger electronics as a core safety concern, not a peripheral one.
- Training saves lives: Crew training, extinguishers, and containment kits have repeatedly prevented small fires from turning catastrophic.
In response to the rising number of battery-related incidents, airlines are aiming to reduce the risk of lithium-ion thermal runaway. Emirates announced a major policy update effective 1 October 2025. Passengers may carry one power bank only, up to 100 Wh, but may not use it to charge other devices onboard nor charge it from seat-outlets. The device must remain in cabin baggage and be placed under the seat or in the seat pocket, not in overhead bins.
While aviation remains one of the safest modes of transport, a battery-related fire is among the rare hazards that can escalate swiftly in the confined, pressurised cabin environment. For both airlines and passengers, raising awareness and proper handling of lithium-ion devices is essential to flight safety.
Cover Image Source: X (formerly Twitter); credited to viral user video
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