Vape sparks midair emergency on Brisbane flight
A emergency has unfolded on a Virgin flight from Brisbane to Melbourne after a vape ignited in the cabin in midair.
The pilot of VA328 issued an emergency PAN alert on Sunday as the plane was descending into Melbourne about 4pm.
A PAN alert is second only to a mayday call for midair emergencies.
The plane was put into a holding pattern above the airport as emergency services were put on standby.
A Virgin spokesperson said the passenger’s vape had activated in the cabin, sparking a small fire.
You might like
The plane landed safely and taxied to the terminal, with aviation fire and rescue crews following as a precaution.
Melbourne Airport confirmed the safe landing about 4.45pm. The Boeing 737 then taxied to the gate, where passengers and staff disembarked normally.
There were no injuries.
“The safety of our guests and crew is our highest priority, and we thank our crew for their swift response in containing the device,” the Virgin Australia spokesperson said.
Stay informed, daily
Fire crews removed the vape device from the aircraft.
The alarming incident is just the latest in a spate of lithium battery fires in plane cabins. They include a fire that sparked a major emergency on a Virgin flight from Sydney to Hobart last July.
Amid rising concerns, airlines have begun banning battery-operated devices from carriage in checked-in bags and sometimes also from use in flight. They include AirPods and other earbuds (and their cases) and the batteries used to charge mobile phones, laptops and other devices.
Virgin and other Australian airlines tightened rules on the use of power banks onboard flights from December 1, following the incident on the Hobart flight.
Airlines have also restricted the number and size of power banks passengers can carry. In addition, Virgin restricts vapes and e-cigarettes to cabin bags only.
“When packed or carried on board you need to prevent the item from being accidentally turned on,” its website says.
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority says lithium-ion batteries top the list of common problem items – and most passengers now travel with at least four rechargeable (lithium-powered) devices.
‘Spare lithium batteries, e-cigarettes, vapes and powerbanks must never be packed in checked baggage,” spokesperson Andreas Marcelja said.
“They should always be carried in the cabin, where cabin crew are trained to respond to any incidents.’
Electrical devices without a battery – such as hair driers or straighteners that can be plugged into mains power – are not restricted. They can be packed in either checked or carry-on baggage.
Want to see more stories from InDaily SA in your Google search results?
- Click here to set InDaily SA as a preferred source.
- Tick the box next to "InDaily SA". That's it.
