Passengers onboard a flight experienced a frightening incident when an overhead locker caught fire, leading to an emergency landing due to smoke in the cabin. The incident occurred on an Air China flight departing from Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport bound for Seoul, with 160 passengers and crew onboard. Panic ensued as a lithium battery inside carry-on luggage ignited, causing flames to erupt suddenly, prompting passengers to scream and cabin crew to rush to control the situation.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene with passengers and crew frantically moving through the aisle while attempting to locate the source of the fire. Emergency procedures were swiftly executed as crew members retrieved a fire extinguisher and extinguished the flames. Reports from a passenger mentioned a loud explosion preceding the fire outbreak, heightening the tension onboard.
Air China later confirmed that the fire resulted from a lithium battery in a passenger’s carry-on luggage stored in the overhead compartment. Despite no injuries reported, the flight, CA139, was diverted to Shanghai Pudong International Airport for safety reasons. The plane safely landed in Shanghai, and passengers were transferred to another aircraft for their journey to Seoul.
Videos and photos circulating online captured the intense flames and smoke, showcasing the severity of the situation. The charred marks on several seat rows indicated the extent of the fire. While the cause was attributed to a lithium battery, details regarding the specific device and manufacturer remain undisclosed.
This incident adds to a series of similar events involving lithium batteries on flights in the region this year. Previous occurrences include a China Southern Airlines flight in May and an Air Busan flight in January, where lithium battery-related incidents led to emergency responses and minor injuries among passengers and crew.