A power bank caught fire in the V Air cabin — it was made by “Xiaomi”

▲ Power bank suddenly catches fire, V Air flight returns to Taoyuan (Photo / Screenshot from Blowing Whistle Community)

Lifestyle Center / Comprehensive Report

A power bank caught fire inside a V Air (V Air) flight cabin on the 6th, but fortunately, flight attendants extinguished the flames immediately, and all 161 passengers and crew members were unharmed. The Civil Aeronautics Administration revealed that the power bank was produced by the Chinese brand “Xiaomi,” and the cause of the spontaneous combustion is still under investigation.

V Air flight ZV-252 was originally scheduled to depart from Taoyuan Airport at 10:26 p.m. on the 6th bound for Tokyo Haneda Airport, but shortly after takeoff, a power bank in a passenger’s carry-on luggage emitted flames. Fortunately, flight attendants extinguished the fire and placed the power bank in a trash can filled with water to cool it down. All 161 passengers and crew members were safe. Considering flight safety and issues of crew overtime, the captain decided to return to Taoyuan Airport.

It is understood that the passenger’s power bank was being charged at the time of the incident. The Civil Aeronautics Administration revealed that the power bank was manufactured by “Xiaomi,” with a capacity of 40 watt-hours, which complies with the Civil Aeronautics Administration’s regulation limit of 100 watt-hours for devices allowed on board. As for why it caught fire — whether due to lithium battery quality issues or improper use — the cause is still under investigation.

There have been past cases where foreign passengers placed batteries on seats, accidentally causing friction, heat, and smoke, but this is the first time such an incident has occurred on a domestic airline. The Aviation Safety Council will step in to investigate.