A Virgin Australia flight from Brisbane to Melbourne was met by firefighters after smoke was seen coming from a vape on board. Flight VA 328 landed safely at Melbourne Airport at about 4pm on Sunday, with all passengers disembarking normally after the device activated in the cabin shortly before landing.
A passenger alerted the crew when vapour and smoke was seen from the vape. The crew then contained the unit, and the pilots declared a 'pan'—a situation less urgent than a mayday but requiring expedited arrival. Firefighters followed the aircraft to the gate as a precaution and removed the device.
A Virgin Australia spokesperson said safety is the highest priority and thanked the crew for their swift response. Vapes contain small lithium batteries that can spark fires when damaged or overheating, a phenomenon known as thermal runaway. According to Virgin Australia's website, vapes must be carried in hand luggage only.
This incident follows a July event where a power bank ignited in an overhead locker on a Virgin Australia flight, prompting a policy change requiring power banks to be stowed in seat pockets or under seats. All Virgin aircraft carry equipment to suppress lithium battery fires.
Dr Adam Best from the CSIRO noted that vape batteries are more prone to failure than power bank batteries due to lower quality and lack of safety features. Faults can lead to high temperatures, fire, toxic gas release, or explosion.
