There was panic on an Air China commercial passenger flight on Saturday when a battery kept in a passenger’s hand bag suddenly caught fire. Immediately after the incident, the flight crew took control of the situation and made an emergency diversion to Shanghai. The airline has confirmed that all passengers and crew are safe.
How did the incident happen?
According to the airline, the incident occurred while the aircraft was in flight. Smoke was seen rising from the carry-on bag of a passenger. Upon investigation it was found that the battery kept in the bag had caught fire. Flight attendants quickly brought the fire under control using fire extinguishers and the aircraft was safely diverted to Shanghai.
airline statement
Air China issued a statement saying that passenger safety is its top priority. The concerned battery has been handed over to the authorities for investigation. It is not clear from the initial investigation what caused the battery fire — it could have been a lithium-ion cell failure or a short circuit due to overheating.
What if there was a delay?
Experts say that lithium-ion batteries kept in flights can create an explosive situation if not controlled. A major accident was averted due to the quick action of the Air China crew.
