A plane had to make an emergency landing when a power bank exploded onboard, causing chaos among passengers. The Alaska Airlines flight AS2117 from Wichita to Seattle was diverted due to an ‘external battery fire’ shortly after take-off, resulting in significant delays. Witnesses reported a woman’s charging device suddenly exploding on her lap, filling the cabin with smoke and leading to one person being injured. The fire was eventually put out by a flight attendant using a fire extinguisher.
Passenger accounts described the frightening moment when the power bank erupted in flames, leaving burn marks on the woman and prompting her to throw the device into the aisle. Another passenger mentioned that smoke filled the cabin only 15 minutes into the flight, prompting crew members to respond swiftly with a fire extinguisher.
Upon landing, three individuals were evacuated from the plane, with the power bank’s owner receiving medical attention after being treated at the scene. Alaska Airlines ensured the safe handling of the phone and power bank by sealing them in a bag before landing. Passengers affected by the delay were accommodated on a later flight to Seattle.
In a similar incident, a Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) flight had to perform an emergency landing when a lithium-ion power bank started smoking and overheating in the cabin. Fortunately, no injuries were reported among the 186 passengers on board.
Concerns over safety have led several airlines, including Emirates, Qantas, Virgin Atlantic, and ITA Airways, to prohibit the use of power banks during flights. Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) regulations allow lithium-ion batteries under 160 Wh to be carried in carry-on luggage for personal use, with a limit of two batteries per passenger and a prohibition on checked baggage transport.
