Passengers were left terrified after a power bank overheated and filled a plane cabin with thick smoke mid-flight. An emergency response was launched on board a Chinese Tianjin Airlines jet when the portable charger started to emit fumes as the aircraft approached its destination. Travellers said the cabin filled with a dense smoke shortly afterward, sparking fears of a fire on board.
"I didn't notice at first, but then the noise got louder," one passenger said. "The smoke was quite thick. There was no open fire, but the smell was very strong."
Footage showed the moment cabin crew rushed to deal with the charger as an announcement was heard telling passengers: "There is a fire situation in the cabin. We are organising firefighting protocols, please remain calm and do not panic."
The power bank overheated as the plane prepared to land on the morning of June 15. The Airbus A320neo had departed from Tianjin Binhai International Airport in northern China at 6:49 a.m. local time and landed at Jieyang Chaoshan International Airport in Guangdong Province at 9:17 a.m.
After touching down safely, passengers were told to leave the aircraft without their luggage before later returning briefly to collect their belongings. A spokesperson for Tianjin Airlines said: "On 15 June, flight GS7829 from Tianjin to Jieyang experienced a situation where a passenger's power bank began emitting smoke. Crew members discovered it immediately and handled it appropriately according to procedures. No one was injured, there was no damage to aircraft facilities or equipment, and the flight landed safely."
They added: "If it is necessary to carry a power bank, please check it carefully to ensure it meets 3C certification and other relevant requirements." The incident caused a delay of around one hour and 12 minutes.
No injuries were reported and the aircraft was not damaged. The scare comes as airlines and aviation regulators around the world tighten restrictions on power banks following a rise in thermal runaway incidents. Tianjin Airlines currently allows passengers to carry power banks in their hand luggage or on their person, but they are strictly banned from checked baggage.
