An Air China flight bound for Seoul was forced to make an emergency landing on Saturday after a fire broke out in the overhead luggage compartment, reportedly caused by a lithium battery stored in a passenger’s carry-on bag.
The flight, numbered CA139, had taken off from Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport at 09:47 local time (03:47 SAST) and was scheduled to arrive at Incheon International Airport at 12:20 (06:20 SAST).
According to South China Morning Post, the fire started when a lithium battery inside the overhead luggage spontaneously ignited. In a statement posted on social media, Air China confirmed the cause of the incident, saying:
“On October 18, on flight CA139 from Hangzhou to Incheon, a lithium battery in a passenger’s carry-on luggage stored in the overhead compartment spontaneously ignited.”
Cabin crew responded immediately by using onboard fire extinguishers to contain the flames, and the situation was brought under control within minutes. “To ensure flight safety,” the airline said:
“the plane had to make an unscheduled landing at Shanghai Pudong International Airport.” No passengers or crew members were injured during the incident.
Videos shared on Chinese social media platforms showed thick smoke rising from one of the overhead bins while passengers shouted and moved away from the affected area. In one clip, people could be heard yelling “hurry up” in Korean as flight attendants worked to extinguish the fire.
The aircraft landed safely in Shanghai at approximately 10:35 local time (04:35 SAST), where emergency services were already on standby. Firefighters boarded the plane to ensure there was no further risk before passengers were allowed to disembark.
Lithium batteries are widely used in portable electronic devices such as smartphones, laptops, and power banks. However, they can pose a fire hazard if damaged or exposed to high temperatures.
Most airlines, including Air China, allow passengers to carry lithium batteries in their hand luggage but prohibit them from being placed in checked baggage. The airline said it would cooperate with aviation authorities to determine the exact cause of the battery failure.
Following the emergency landing, Air China arranged a replacement aircraft to continue the journey to Seoul later that afternoon. Passengers were accommodated at the airport during the wait.
