Vape sparks cabin fire on Virgin Australia flight bound for Melbourne – UK Times

A Virgin Australia flight was met by an emergency crew at Melbourne airport after a vaping device ignited inside the aircraft cabin during descent.

The incident occurred on Sunday on flight VA328 travelling from Brisbane to Melbourne.

According to the airline, the device activated while the aircraft was preparing to land, causing a small fire onboard.

“As a precaution and in accordance with standard procedures, emergency services were placed on standby,” a spokesperson for the airport said.

The pilots issued a “PAN” alert, a signal used in aviation to indicate an urgent situation that may require assistance, the Melbourne airport spokesperson added.

The aircraft landed safely at Melbourne airport and was able to taxi to the terminal while aviation fire and rescue crews followed as a precaution.

All passengers and crew disembarked normally at the gate, and no injuries were reported.

A spokesperson for Virgin Australia said the crew acted quickly to contain the device, adding that the safety of their guests was the “highest priority, and we thank our crew for their swift response in containing the device”.

Fire crews later removed the device from the aircraft.

Virgin Australia’s guidelines state that vapes and e-cigarettes must be carried in hand luggage only.

“When packed or carried on board, you need to prevent the item from being accidentally turned on,” it said.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority also requires spare batteries for e-cigarettes to be kept in their original packaging or stored separately in protective pouches or plastic bags, with terminals protected to prevent short-circuiting.

Vapes are powered by rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, which can overheat, catch fire or explode if they are damaged, overcharged or exposed to extreme temperatures.

The incident on Sunday comes as airlines and aviation authorities have tightened rules on carrying power banks onboard aircraft due to the fire risks associated with lithium-ion batteries.

Virgin Australia introduced restrictions on the use of power banks on flights in December. Qantas implemented a similar policy.

Virgin had begun reviewing its power bank policy in July after cabin crew were forced to extinguish a fire on a mid-air flight between Sydney and Hobart.