A recent incident on a Virgin Australia flight to Tasmania raised alarms when a fire broke out mid-air. The flight, designated VA158, took off from Sydney early Monday and was just beginning its descent into Hobart around 9 a.m. when smoke filled the cabin of the Boeing 737-8FE.
Passengers onboard recounted how the crew opened an overhead compartment to find a lithium battery ablaze. Eyewitness videos captured passengers rushing toward the back of the plane as a distressed flight attendant called for help.
In one clip, people were seen passing a water bottle to the crew as they worked to extinguish the flames.
Reports indicate that the cabin crew successfully put out the fire using the water bottle after their initial attempt failed. Passengers recounted feelings of panic during the ordeal, and crew members asked them not to film the event.
Upon landing safely in Hobart, firefighters from Air Services Australia boarded the airplane and removed the bag that contained the burning battery. Matt Cocker, Hobart Airport COO, mentioned that one individual received medical attention for possibly inhaling smoke.
“Outbound Virgin flights to Sydney are currently delayed, but everything else at Hobart Airport is operating as normal,” he noted.
In a statement to a news outlet, Virgin Australia confirmed that the crew and flight were checked by paramedics and subsequently cleared. The airline said, “The VA158 from Sydney to Hobart landed safely after a fire in an overhead locker during descent. The fire was extinguished by our cabin crew before landing, and firefighters handled the situation when the plane touched down.”
They emphasized that safety is their top priority and praised their crew for their quick and professional response.
Meanwhile, a replacement aircraft is being arranged for return flights to Sydney. Virgin’s customer service team is reaching out to passengers in the affected queue.
This event follows a separate fire incident earlier this year involving a South Korean passenger plane, which resulted in minor injuries to three individuals, with local officials suggesting that a portable power bank may have caused the blaze.
