:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/Lithium-battery-catches-fire-101825-1-ad64b67331a24cf0a349438204b3763a.jpg)
NEED TO KNOW
- An Air China flight made an emergency landing after a passenger’s lithium battery “spontaneously ignited”
- Footage of the incident shows bright flames and smoke emanating from an open overhead compartment
- Two members of the airline crew can then be seen in the footage hurrying from the rear of the plane toward the fire
A passenger plane operated by Air China was diverted after a lithium battery caught fire in an overhead compartment.
Flight CA139 had departed from Hangzhou, China, and was en route to Incheon International Airport, near Seoul, South Korea, when the incident occurred on the morning of Saturday, Oct.18, per France 24.
Footage of the incident filmed by passengers and obtained by NBC News shows smoke and flames emanating from an open overhead bin as visibly concerned passengers flag the cabin crew for help. Two members of the airline crew can then be seen hurrying from the rear of the plane toward the fire.
“A lithium battery spontaneously ignited in a passenger’s carry-on luggage stored in the overhead bin on flight CA139,” the airline said in a statement on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, per France 24.
“The crew immediately handled the situation according to procedures, and no one was injured,” the airline added.
NBC News
The airline said the plane was diverted to Shanghai Pudong International Airport in China for an unscheduled landing “to ensure flight safety.”
PEOPLE reached out to Air China for comment on Oct. 18, but did not receive an immediate response.
Thermal runaway, or self-heating, can occur without warning in lithium batteries as a result of various factors, including if the battery is damaged, overheated, exposed to water, overcharged or improperly packed, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Common items that contain lithium batteries include smartphones, laptops, tablets and e-readers, smartwatches and fitness trackers and portable power banks.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
A number of airlines prohibit passengers from traveling with lithium batteries — whether installed in devices or uninstalled — in their checked luggage, though policies vary from airline to airline. The TSA prohibits all uninstalled lithium batteries — such as external battery packs — from checked baggage.