A power bank set fire to a plane at an altitude of 10 km (2 photos + 2 videos)
On October 18, 2025, an incident involving a power bank occurred on board Air China Flight A321 from Hangzhou, China, to Seoul, South Korea. It nearly ended in tragedy. And it added another phobia to the pile. 
An Air China A321, en route from Hangzhou, China, to Incheon, South Korea, full of passengers, climbed to an altitude of 10 km (33,000 ft) when a power bank in one of the passengers' carry-on bags overheated and caught fire in the overhead compartment. Smoke immediately spread throughout the cabin, causing panic: passengers became nervous, and the crew fought the fire themselves.
The pilots requested an emergency landing at Shanghai, the nearest airport, and successfully landed the plane at Pudong Airport 20 minutes after takeoff. No one was injured, but the plane remained on the ground for inspection.
Air China officially confirmed: "A lithium battery in carry-on baggage spontaneously ignited in the overhead compartment." Video of the incident, filmed by passengers, went viral: orange flames, black smoke, and a commotion in the cabin.
The plane, an 8-year-old A321 with 20,000 flight hours, seats 185 passengers, and the aircraft was packed. After landing, everyone was evacuated, and the device was seized for investigation. The airline apologized and promised compensation.
A series of fires caused by lithium-ion batteries in portable chargers and smartphones rocked the airline industry in 2025, forcing airlines worldwide to tighten safety regulations. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reports 593 incidents involving lithium batteries on US aircraft since 2006, 50 of which occurred between 2025 and September.
In January 2025, an entire plane caught fire due to a faulty power bank. Emirates and Thai Airways banned power bank charging onboard from March and October 2025, while in Asia, they introduced a capacity limit (up to 100 Wh) and required them to be kept in seat pockets, not overhead bins.
Experts blame "thermal runaway"—when the battery overheats due to a defect or damage. The FAA and EASA have tightened regulations: power banks can only be transported in the cabin, without charging, and with labeling. Following this incident, China and Korea may impose new regulations. The investigation is ongoing, but the important thing is that everyone is alive this time.
