US EditionAir China Flight Diverts to Shanghai After Overhead-Bin Battery Fire
- On October 18, Air China diverted a passenger flight to Shanghai Pudong International Airport, landing shortly after 11am with no injuries reported, officials said.
- A lithium battery in a carry-on spontaneously ignited in an overhead bin, and the crew quickly contained it, prompting an unscheduled landing at Shanghai Pudong International Airport.
- A passenger image showed bright flames in an overhead bin and black smoke filled the cabin as at least one passenger tried to extinguish the blaze, while passengers shouted in Korean.
- Scheduled arrival at Incheon International Airport was disrupted after Flightradar24 recorded the flight’s 9.47am departure from Hangzhou, forcing a route change.
- Air China confirmed the incident in a social media post, and media outlets published images and timelines on October 18, 2025.
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Lithium battery stored in Air China passenger’s case explodes into flames on flight
A fire broke out on an Air China flight when a lithium battery stored in a passenger’s carry-on luggage burst into flames. Footage shows an overhead compartment ablaze as panicked passengers flag down the cabin crew who rushed down the aisle towards the fire. The flight from Hangzhou, China to Incheon, South Korea on Saturday (18 October) was forced to make an emergency landing in Shanghai. “A lithium battery spontaneously ignited in a passenger…
Air China flight makes emergency landing as overhead locker bursts into flames - The Mirror
An Air China flight from Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport for Seoul was forced into making an emergency landing in Shanghai after an overhead locker suddenly went up in flames
Fire on Air China flight shows why airlines are banning power bank use onboard
The Air China incident has renewed global concern about lithium batteries and how they are packed for flights. UAE airlines are already ahead of the curve, having tightened rules in recent weeks.
No injuries were reported, but an emergency landing was made.The flight was headed for South Korea and the episode was added to similar ones in recent months.
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