An Air China flight to Seoul turned into an impromptu fire drill on Saturday when a lithium battery in a passenger’s carry-on decided to flambé itself. Passengers gasped, flight attendants sprinted with extinguishers, and smoke curled like an uninvited guest as the plane made an emergency landing in Shanghai—proving that sometimes, the only thing hotter than your travel itinerary is your power bank, New York Post reported. The incident occurred on Flight CA139, which departed Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport at 9.47 am (local time) with 160 passengers and crew en route to South Korea’s Incheon International Airport, according to the airline and Chinese state media.Video circulating on Chinese social media and on X, showed bright flames and thick smoke emanating from an overhead compartment as passengers called for assistance.Two flight attendants were seen sprinting down the aisle with fire extinguishers, while others urged travellers to remain seated. Air China on Weibo said that “a lithium battery in a passenger’s carry-on luggage stored in the overhead compartment spontaneously ignited.” The crew responded immediately, and no injuries were reported, the statement added. The aircraft diverted to Shanghai Pudong International Airport “to ensure flight safety,” Air China said. Flight-tracking site Flightradar24 indicated that the plane landed safely in Shanghai around 11 am. A replacement jet later transported the passengers to Seoul. A passenger quoted by local media described hearing a loud explosion moments before flames erupted from the storage bin. Photos shared online depicted scorched lining above several rows of seats. Passengers reported several minutes of confusion as the fire crackled from the bin. One traveller shouted “hurry up!” in Korean as the smoke thickened. Local outlets suggested the ignited item was likely a power bank battery, although officials have not confirmed the brand or manufacturer. The Air China incident is the latest in a series of lithium-battery-related events involving Asian carriers this year.
