WATCH | Fire Breaks Out Inside Air China Flight After Passenger’s Lithium Battery Explodes Mid-Air

A major tragedy was narrowly averted aboard Air China flight CA139 from Hangzhou to Seoul after a lithium battery burst into flames inside the cabin shortly after takeoff. The battery, reportedly kept in an overhead luggage compartment, suddenly caught fire, filling the cabin with smoke and panic. The crew immediately initiated emergency procedures, and the pilot diverted the flight to Shanghai, where the aircraft landed safely. All passengers escaped unharmed, but the terrifying moments were captured on video and are now going viral on social media. In the clip, passengers can be heard screaming, and a flight attendant, along with others, can be seen rushing to douse the flames amid billowing smoke. Air China later confirmed the incident, stating that the fire was quickly extinguished and all safety protocols were followed. China implements emergency ban on portable batteries in flights The fire comes months after China implemented an emergency ban on some portable batteries aboard flights. The ban, which went into effect in June, came after a regulator warned about the growing risks to flights from the batteries, The New York Times reported. Millions of lithium batteries, which can be found in some cellphones, laptops, chargers and electronic cigarettes, have been recalled in recent years over potential fire hazards. According to the US Federal Aviation Administration, the batteries can spontaneously catch fire if they are damaged or short circuit. Read more