A fire erupted on a Virgin Australia flight as it was landing in Hobart, Australia.
A passenger's bag suddenly caught fire on the overhead compartment.
The airline suspects that a common power bank may have been the cause of the blaze, according to reports from The New York Times and ABC News.
The incident occurred around 9:00 AM on Monday during flight VA1528 from Sydney. Crew members quickly extinguished the flames prior to landing, and no injuries were reported among passengers or crew.
One passenger told ABC that the flight was quite alarming, and that about 10 minutes before landing, passengers were informed of smoke and a strange odor coming from one of the overhead compartments.
According to him, passengers saw a "ball of fire" emerge from the luggage area, but the crew acted professionally and put out the fire.
Portable chargers or power banks typically use lithium-ion batteries, which have been used in smartphones and laptops for decades. However, damaged, overheated, or defective batteries can ignite.
In recent years, the number of such incidents on aircraft has increased, prompting some of the world’s largest airlines to revise their policies regarding the transport of these devices.
For instance, in 2024, the Federal Aviation Administration in the United States recorded 39 incidents related to lithium batteries on passenger flights.
Australian officials have also reported an increase in fires caused by such batteries.
According to the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority, most passengers carry at least four devices with lithium batteries but are often unaware of the risks associated with such baggage.
Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Malaysia Airlines have already banned the use of power banks during flights. Hong Kong's aviation regulator has also implemented similar restrictions for all airlines operating in the region, including Cathay Pacific.
In May, Southwest Airlines became the first of the four largest U.S. carriers to implement the strictest rules regarding power banks, prohibiting the transport of portable batteries in cargo holds.
Following the incident, Virgin Australia announced it is reviewing its policy that currently allows passengers to bring power banks on board.
The airline also urged customers to keep their devices visible and not to use them during the flight.
