A fire erupted on a Virgin Australia passenger flight while it was landing in Hobart, Australia.
A passenger's bag on the overhead compartment suddenly caught fire.
The airline suspects that a standard power bank may have caused the ignition, as reported by The New York Times and ABC News.
The incident took place around 9:00 AM on Monday on flight VA1528 from Sydney. The crew extinguished the flames before landing. No injuries were reported among passengers or crew members.
One passenger recounted that just 10 minutes before landing, they were informed about smoke and a strange smell coming from one of the overhead compartments. He described seeing a "fireball" burst from the luggage area, but the crew acted professionally and quickly put out the fire.
Portable chargers or power banks typically run on 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 flights has increased, prompting some of the world's largest airlines to change their policies regarding the transport of these devices.
For instance, in 2024, the Federal Aviation Administration reported 39 incidents related to lithium batteries on passenger flights.
Australian officials have also reported a rise 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 often do not recognize the risks associated with such luggage.
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 in the region, including Cathay Pacific.
In May, Southwest Airlines became the first of the four largest U.S. carriers to adopt the strictest rules regarding power banks, prohibiting portable batteries in cargo holds.
After the Virgin Australia incident, the airline stated that it is reviewing its policy, which currently allows passengers to bring power banks onboard.
The airline also urged customers to keep their devices visible and not to use them during the flight.