Oslo — A Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) flight preparing to depart Oslo Gardermoen for Bergen on October 14, 2025 was evacuated after a lithium-battery fire erupted inside a passenger’s carry-on suitcase, sending eight people to hospital for medical supervision after smoke inhalation. A preliminary update on the incident was released by the Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority (NSIA) on November 18th, 2025
According to NSIA, the fire started in a piece of carry-on baggage during boarding of the Airbus A320 (registration SE-RUR). Smoke was first detected coming from a passenger’s suitcase. The cockpit crew donned oxygen masks, while cabin crew deployed smoke hoods, used a halon extinguisher, and removed the burning bag from the aircraft. The suitcase was handed over to airport Fire & Rescue and later seized by police.
Aviation Herald reports that once outside, the fire flared up again and had to be extinguished a second time. This behavior is consistent with lithium-ion thermal runaway, in which a battery can reignite even after initial suppression.
The NSIA has classified the occurrence as a serious aviation incident, noting that around 50 passengers were already on board when the fire broke out. No structural damage to the aircraft was reported. The flight was canceled, and passengers were rebooked onto alternative services.
Lithium battery fires: A growing hazard
Lithium-battery fires have become an increasing concern for airlines due to the risk of rapid ignition, toxic smoke, and the possibility of re-ignition outside the cabin environment. These fires are notoriously difficult to extinguish, and the Oslo event mirrors several similar cases reported worldwide this year.
Battery-related fires are among the few hazards that can escalate rapidly in a confined aircraft cabin. Airlines have been tightening safety rules in response. Emirates, for example, now requires all power banks to be carried in the cabin and stored under the seat or in the seat pocket and not in overhead bins to reduce the risk of hidden thermal runaway events.
For broader context, see The Aviation Brief’s earlier coverage on Five Alarming Inflight Lithium-Battery Fires in 2025.
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