Virgin Australia flight scare after mid-air fire en route to Hobart sparked by power bank

A mid-air fire on a Virgin Australia flight has prompted an update to the airline’s policy on the carriage of power banks, to ensure they are in view at all times.

Virgin Australia has directed passengers to keep power banks within view at all times after a mid-air fire in an overhead locker, thought to have been sparked by a lithium battery power bank in carry-on luggage.

Flight VA1528 was descending into Hobart on Monday when smoke began seeping from an overhead locker and filling the cabin.

Cabin crew found a bag on fire in the locker, and used two extinguishers to smother the flames.

Flight Attendants Association of Australia national secretary Teri O’Toole said the crew fought the fire “aggressively”, not even pausing to don protective equipment.

“This shows how important cabin crew are as first responders,” said Ms O’Toole.

Those on board praised the crew for their calm and competent handling of the situation, with the fire extinguished while the Boeing 737-800 was still in the air.

A Virgin Australia spokesman said Airservices Australia firefighters attended the aircraft once it arrived in Hobart and removed a bag from the overhead locker.

“We appreciate the swift and professional response of our flight and cabin crew, as well as the support of Airservices Australia firefighters,” the spokesman said.

Once on the ground, cabin crew and pilots were checked by paramedics and subsequently cleared. No passengers were injured, and a replacement aircraft was sourced for the return flight to Sydney.

Like most carriers, Virgin Australia allows lithium batteries to be carried in cabin baggage, given the risk of fire can be better managed in the cabin as opposed to the cargo hold.

A Virgin Australia Boeing 737-8FE like the one involved in the mid-air fire scare.

However, Virgin Australia indicated on Tuesday it was now asking passengers to keep power banks within sight and easily accessible at all times, and to not use power banks to charge devices while on board.

“We have immediately initiated an investigation into the cause of a small fire originating from a passenger’s carry-on luggage in an overhead locker during the descent of flight VA1528 yesterday,” said a Virgin spokeswoman.

“Any relevant findings from this investigation may inform permanent changes to our battery policy to ensure the safety of our guests and team members.”

The airline confirmed a power bank in a passenger’s bag was believed to be the cause of the fire.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority has previously issued a warning about flying with battery-powered devices, noting that the average passengers travelled with at least four lithium battery devices.

“Lithium batteries power everyday items like phones, laptops and cameras, but you must pack them safely to prevent hazards,” the CASA advisory said.

“In 2022, the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission saw a 92 per cent increase in reported incidents involving lithium-ion batteries compared to 2020.”

The advisory warned that batteries and power banks could “short-circuit, overheat and catch fire during flight”.

“A lithium-ion battery fire can be very difficult to extinguish,” CASA said.

“Always pack spare batteries and power banks in your carry-on baggage. Trained aircrew can manage any issues quickly and safely in the cabin.”

Some airlines have cracked down further on the use of portable power banks during flights, banning their use on aircraft, either as stand-alone devices or via on-board USB flights.

Airlines with the hardest line on such devices include Singapore Airlines, Scoot, Thai Airways, South Korean Airlines, EVA Air and China Airlines.

Others such as Mexico’s Volaris Airlines has banned lithium ion devices altogether, requiring them to be shipped rather than carried on board flights.

Originally published as Virgin Australia flight scare after mid-air fire en route to Hobart sparked by power bank