Video shows passengers terrified as fire suddenly erupts in Air China plane, forcing emergency landing

A passenger plane operated by Air China was forced to make an emergency landing after a lithium battery spontaneously caught fire in a traveler’s carry-on bag. Flight CA139, which departed from Hangzhou, China, and was bound for Incheon International Airport near Seoul, South Korea, experienced the incident on the morning of Saturday, Oct. 18, according to reports from France 24.

Passenger footage shows smoke and flames emerging from an overhead bin, with several travelers alerting flight attendants to the fire. Airline crew members were then seen rushing to contain the situation.





"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.

Lithium batteries, which are commonly found in devices such as smartphones, laptops, tablets, smartwatches, fitness trackers, and portable power banks, can sometimes overheat or catch fire without warning due to damage, overcharging, exposure to water, or improper packing, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

Airlines generally restrict passengers from carrying lithium batteries in checked luggage, and the Transportation Security Administration prohibits all uninstalled lithium batteries, such as external power banks, from checked baggage.