An AirChina flight was forced to make an emergency landing on Saturday, October 18, as a terrifying fire broke out in the overhead luggage bins.
Panic broke out and passengers screamed when bright orange flames and smoke began to billow out from the overhead compartment. A video online shows passengers and crew rushing to put the flames out.
The Air China A321, flying from Hangzhou, China, to Incheon, South Korea, had already reached 33,000 feet when a fire erupted. Cabin crew swiftly extinguished the flames, according to passengers. The plane diverted to Shanghai’s Pudong International Airport for an emergency landing. No injuries were reported. Air China stated the fire began in a power bank inside carry-on luggage.
Powerbank fires in overhead lockers on flights increase in 2025
A string of fires caused by lithium-ion batteries in power banks and smartphones has rattled the aviation industry in 2025, leading airlines worldwide to tighten safety rules. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reports 593 incidents involving lithium batteries on US aircraft since 2006, with 50 cases in 2025 alone up until September. The batteries, common in portable chargers and phones, can ignite in a process called thermal runaway, producing heat up to 1,000°C, toxic smoke, and flames that are hard to extinguish.
On January 28, 2025, an Air Busan flight from Busan to Hong Kong was engulfed in flames on the tarmac due to a power bank fire in an overhead bin. The faulty battery’s insulation failed, triggering thermal runaway. All 169 passengers and seven crew members evacuated via slides, with three sustaining minor injuries. The plane was destroyed, causing airlines like Emirates and Singapore Airlines to ban power bank use in cabins.
Low-cost electronics appear to be at fault as stricter rules come in on lithium-ion batteries on flights
In March, Hong Kong Airlines flight HX115 from Hangzhou to Hong Kong faced a mid-flight fire when a power bank ignited in an overhead bin 15 minutes after takeoff. The crew diverted to Fuzhou, using liquids to douse the flames and prevent re-ignition. No one was injured, but the incident led South Korea and Taiwan to enforce stricter battery rules.
A similar event occurred on May 31, 2025, aboard China Southern Airlines flight CZ6850 from Hangzhou to Shenzhen. A power bank and camera battery exploded in a luggage compartment, filling the cabin with smoke. The plane returned to Hangzhou, and the crew extinguished the fire with a mini-extinguisher. No injuries were reported, but the incident prompted China to ban uncertified power banks on domestic flights in June 2025.
Airlines now require power banks and phones to stay in sight, not in overhead bins, and many ban in-flight charging. Crews are trained to use thermal containment bags and extinguishers, which have so far prevented fatalities in these cases.
Still, the rise in incidents, averaging 1.7 per week in the US alone in 2024, has experts concerned. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) insists passengers follow safety guidelines to curb risks. As airlines adapt, travellers must stay vigilant to keep skies safe.
