Passengers on an Air China flight from Hangzhou to Seoul experienced a frightening incident when a lithium battery inside a carry-on luggage caught fire, leading to an emergency landing in Shanghai. The plane, carrying 160 passengers and crew, was filled with smoke as the flames erupted, causing panic among passengers.
Cabin crew and passengers rushed to control the situation, with one passenger using a fire extinguisher to put out the flames. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, but as a safety precaution, the flight was diverted to Shanghai Pudong International Airport.
The airline confirmed that the fire was caused by a lithium battery in a passenger’s carry-on luggage stored in the overhead compartment. Despite the scare, the passengers were later transferred to another aircraft and safely continued their journey to Seoul.
Videos and photos shared online captured the intensity of the fire and smoke inside the cabin, with visible scorch marks on several rows of seats. While the source of the lithium battery that ignited remains unknown, this incident adds to a series of similar incidents involving lithium batteries on flights in the region earlier this year.
These incidents serve as a reminder of the potential dangers associated with lithium batteries on flights and highlight the importance of proper handling and storage to ensure passenger safety.