Fire Erupt In Air China's Flight, Leading To Emergency Landing

China: Oct 2025: Air China flight CA139 from Hangzhou to Seoul had to make an emergency landing in Shanghai after a lithium battery caught fire mid-air which was placed in the overhead compartment that caused panic among the passengers. The crew responded quickly, no injuries were reported. The flight had safe landing in Shanghai. Passengers later rebooked on another flight to reach their destination.

A video footage of the incident shows passengers panicking as crew members rush to control the fire caused by the lithium battery. Intense moment are captured with screams audible and smoke and flames visible.

As per “New York Times”, Air China confirmed that the fire was extinguished in a few minutes and the plane was diverted to Shanghai. Thanks to the crew's prompt action, the fire was brought under control, and all passengers were safely evacuated, averting a potential disaster. Their quick response undoubtedly prevented injuries and ensured everyone's safety.

The ban on some portable batteries was imposed by the authorities in aeroplanes & warned about the increasing threat these batteries posed to flights in June2025, few months later this incident has come

Lithium batteries, which are found in many mobile phones, laptops, chargers and e-cigarettes, have been recalled by the millions in recent years due to a fire hazard. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) says that if these batteries are damaged or have a short circuit, they can spontaneously combust.

As of June 30 this year, the FAA has documented 38 cases in which lithium batteries caused smoke, fire or excessive heat in passenger or cargo aircraft. Last year, 89 such cases were reported. This year, governments and airlines have tightened regulations on these batteries, limiting where they can be placed on planes.