Thermal runaway of lithium-ion battery caused Virgin Australia flight fire

Australia's transport safety regulator has released its official report confirming that a fire aboard a Virgin Australia passenger flight earlier this year was directly caused by a lithium-ion battery experiencing thermal runaway. The incident, which occurred on a service bound for Tasmania, involved a power bank stored within a passenger's carry-on luggage located in an overhead stowage compartment. The resulting thermal event led to a localized blaze, prompting immediate intervention by the flight crew.

Following the investigation, the regulator reiterated stringent warnings concerning the carriage of portable electronic devices (PEDs) and spare lithium-ion batteries, specifically power banks, within the aircraft cabin environment. While these devices are typically required to be carried in the cabin rather than checked baggage to allow for quick intervention if overheating occurs, the report underscores the persistent risk of thermal runaway events. The agency emphasized that passengers must adhere strictly to guidelines regarding the safe storage and handling of lithium-ion batteries to prevent recurrence of such serious safety hazards during flight operations.