A suspected lithium battery blaze on board a Virgin Australia flight has sparked a fresh call for airlines to consider passenger safety.
Passengers aboard Virgin flight VA1528 from Sydney to Hobart reported smelling smoke about 10 minutes before landing on Monday.
As the cabin filled with smoke, crews opened an overhead compartment and reportedly discovered a burning lithium battery.
Passengers told Pulse Tasmania that flames leapt from the locker when it was opened. One passenger described alarm on board, as travellers jumped out of their seats on seeing the blaze.
It was eventually doused with water after a fire extinguisher initially proved ineffective.
The plane landed safely at Hobart Airport shortly after 9am. A Virgin Australia spokesperson said it was met by firefighters.
“Safety is always our highest priority. We appreciate the swift and professional response of our flight and cabin crew, as well as the support of Airservices Australia firefighters,” the spokesperson said.
Firefighters removed a bag containing the still smoking device from the plane.
Hobart Airport spokesman Matt Cocker said all on board safely disembarked the plane. One person was treated by paramedics for suspected smoke inhalation.
But aviation, tourism and travel compensation lawyer Peter Carter said the alarming incident showed that airlines needed to “ask more questions and do more when it comes to on-board safety”.
“When it comes to serious on-board incidents, ultimately the airline is responsible for any resulting injuries, including smoke inhalation,” he said.
“Given this could have erupted into a dangerous blaze very quickly, aviation authorities should be putting this incident under the microscope.”
The official cause of the Virgin blaze remains under investigation.
But it has shed yet more light on the spiralling number of incidents with lithium batteries on board planes.
Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority says most passengers travel with at least four lithium-powered devices but are largely unaware of the risks.
“Devices like phones, laptops, vapes and power banks are common items we travel with – but when they’re packed incorrectly, they can pose a serious fire risk,” CASA chief executive and director of aviation safety, Pip Spence said earlier in July.
“Spare lithium batteries and powerbanks must never be packed in checked baggage. They should always be carried in the cabin, where cabin crew are trained to respond to any incidents.
“Packing right protects everyone on board. A single lithium battery fire in the cargo hold could endanger an entire flight.”
Airlines worldwide have cracked down on carriage of lithium batteries, with Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines and Malaysia Airlines among those to ban their in-flight use. Hong Kong’s aviation regulator has imposed similar restrictions on the territory’s airlines, which include Cathay Pacific.
Last year, the US Federal Aviation Administration recorded 39 episodes involving lithium batteries on passenger flights, many involving powerbanks.
In May, Southwest Airlines became the first of the four biggest US carriers to tighten rules around portable batteries. It has banned passengers from charged devices on board.
Virgin Australia’s policy has been to allow lithium powerbanks as carry-on items but discourage their use in-flight. That policy is under review following this week’s fire, with passengers asked to keep the devices in sight but not use them.
Virgin said any official update on its policy would be guided by investigations by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau and CASA.
Packing rules for specific items can be checked at CASA’s Pack Right website.
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