Cabin fire triggers emergency landing for Hong Kong Airlines flight
- A Hong Kong Airlines flight experienced a mid-air fire that triggered an emergency landing.
- Flight attendants managed to extinguish the fire without any injuries reported amongst the passengers or crew.
- The incident has raised alarms over the safety of portable power banks in overhead compartments.
On March 20, a Hong Kong Airlines flight, HX115, made an emergency landing in Fuzhou, China due to a fire in an overhead compartment. The Airbus A320 took off from Hangzhou at approximately 12:20 PM, headed for Hong Kong, but diverted to Fuzhou Changle International Airport after reports of smoke filling the cabin. Thankfully, all 168 passengers and crew members on board were unharmed, as the flight attendants quickly extinguished the flames. Footage shared on social media showed passengers and crew attempting to douse the fire with bottled water, with onlookers expressing significant concern regarding the potential source of the blaze. Social media speculation suggested that a power bank in one of the overhead bins may have caused the fire, leading to fears related to the safety of lithium batteries commonly used in electronic devices. The rise in in-flight incidents related to battery overheating has sparked attention from authorities and airlines alike, particularly after previous occurrences, such as an Air Busan flight incident in January where a battery recharger ignited a fire, prompting South Korean authorities to implement regulations banning loose power banks and similar devices in the cabin. In the wake of this incident, several airlines including Singapore Airlines and AirAsia have issued stronger prohibitions on carrying power banks during flights. While the exact cause of the fire on the Hong Kong Airlines flight is still under investigation by the airline and the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department, the emphasis on ensuring rigorous regulations and safety protocols for electronic devices in-flight continues to grow due to multiple past experiences highlighting the dangers posed by lithium batteries. Authorities, including the airline, are committed to supporting affected passengers and are making arrangements for their continued travel to Hong Kong. The incident underscores the need for enhanced awareness regarding the handling of portable power sources on flights, as their potential for causing dangerous situations has only increased recently.