One passenger aboard a British Airways service sustained burns after a portable charger in his pocket caught fire, prompting the aircraft to turn back to London Gatwick, where some travellers were assessed for possible smoke inhalation.
Roughly a quarter-hour into the flight, the episode unfolded, based on a witness account that one news outlet carried in its coverage. Those aboard the aircraft described detecting a smell of smoke and seeing flames along the cabin aisle, with accounts indicating someone had called out a warning moments before.
Flight attendants worked to contain the fire while unease spread through the passengers on board. A witness travelling on board described the device igniting while stored in a passenger's pocket.
A spokesperson for British Airways indicated that the plane diverted back to Gatwick following the onboard incident. A statement from the carrier recognised the cabin crew's handling of the in-flight emergency and extended an apology to those whose journeys were disrupted.
One passenger aboard described the episode as among the most unnerving experiences of their life. Burns left one man in need of treatment, and a number of fellow travellers on board also sought care after breathing in smoke. No independent verification of the injury details has come through in the reporting available.
Details such as the flight number, the type of aircraft involved, and where it was headed remain unknown.
Lithium-ion cells — the power source found in most portable chargers — are prone to generating excess heat and, in some cases, igniting when a physical impact or internal defect compromises their integrity. Under certain conditions, a battery may enter what engineers call thermal runaway — a chain reaction that drives temperatures upward while releasing smoke and flammable gases.
Sealed within a fuselage, occupants face a compounding threat: smoke spreads rapidly through the shared air of a confined cabin, and a battery fire, once started, resists full suppression.
A comparable power-bank thermal event had already drawn attention in September, when an easyJet aircraft at Milan Malpensa airport was still on the taxiway as a portable charger began overheating, prompting those on board to exit via the emergency slides.
Each traveller flying with British Airways is permitted to carry no more than two portable charging units on board. Passengers are required to keep these devices in their carry-on luggage, refrain from charging them via onboard power outlets, and meet the airline's specifications for capacity and storage.
Those departing from Spain by air are advised to verify their individual carrier's policies ahead of travel, given that rules on restrictions differ from one airline to the next.
