WEB DESK: An incident occurred at Melbourne International Airport in Australia when a Lithium power bank suddenly caught fire, resulting in a passenger being burned.
According to foreign media reports, the affected passenger was in the business lounge of Qatar Airways when the power bank overheated and ignited. The explosion of the power bank filled the lounge with smoke, and approximately 150 people were safely evacuated from the lounge.
Airport staff immediately took the injured passenger to the shower area within the lounge, where medical personnel provided initial first aid. The injured traveler was then transported to a hospital, where his condition was described as stable and not life-threatening.
The airline has announced that it is reviewing its policies regarding passengers’ power banks and other lithium batteries, and new guidelines will be issued soon.
Several international airlines have already advised passengers to keep power banks and additional batteries either in their carry-on bags or under-seat luggage, rather than in overhead compartments. Some airlines have also imposed complete bans on using or charging power banks during flights, and have set limits on their capacity based on the size of the power banks.
