An Air China flight turned into a scene of panic on Saturday when a lithium battery packed inside a passenger’s hand luggage suddenly caught fire mid-air. Flight CA139, which was travelling from Hangzhou to Seoul, had to make an emergency diversion to Shanghai-Pudong Airport after thick smoke began billowing from the overhead compartment.
Videos shared online showed startled passengers leaping from their seats as crew members rushed to douse the flames. Some passengers could be seen covering their faces as the cabin filled with smoke, while flight attendants grabbed fire extinguishers and water bottles to contain the blaze.
According to local media reports, the battery was believed to have overheated inside a bag stored in the overhead bin. Air China later confirmed that the fire was quickly brought under control and that the aircraft landed safely in Shanghai, with no injuries reported.
Watch the video here:
“The cabin crew acted swiftly and professionally, ensuring the safety of all passengers,” the airline said in a statement. Once the aircraft was on the ground, it was inspected by safety personnel before passengers were moved to a replacement flight.
The video went viral, with many users responding to it.
One user wrote, “Gone be the days when people rush to put out fire together. Now take video first. Do they know if that fire spread, they may not be able to upload those videos.” Another commented, “So you mean to tell me aircrafts don’t carry fire extinguishers? got it.” A third user remarked, “But you can’t take water on a flight. Glad everything is okay.”
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