Eight people hospitalised after power bank causes cabin fire

SAS AIRBUS A320-232 OY-KAW (MSN 2817)

On Saturday, I shared a story about power banks being banned from Australian airlines due to safety concerns. Now, an incident at Oslo Airport (OSL/ENGM) has reignited worries over lithium battery safety in aircraft cabins after a portable battery pack caught fire during boarding. The blaze broke out on a nearly new Airbus A320 operated by Scandinavian carrier SAS (SK/SAS), just minutes before it was set to depart on a short domestic flight to Bergen.

About 50 passengers were on board when smoke started seeping from a bag in the cabin. Things escalated fast as thick fumes filled the aisle, prompting the crew to act quickly and evacuate everyone before the situation got worse. The cabin crew put on smoke hoods to protect themselves from the toxic fumes spreading through the plane.

They used a Halon fire extinguisher to control the burning bag and moved it from the aircraft to the tarmac, where emergency responders were already in position. Once outside, the battery pack completely ignited before firefighters managed to fully contain the fire.

Accident investigators later confirmed that eight people were taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation.

A few people were kept under observation but were all released within 24 hours. Investigators say the fire was caused by a portable battery pack in a passenger’s hand luggage. Thanks to the quick actions of the SAS crew, the situation didn’t get worse, but it’s a strong reminder of the need for tighter controls and better passenger awareness.

As the investigation goes on, regulators and airlines will likely move faster to reduce the risk of battery-related fires on flights.