Overview

• A lithium battery in a passenger’s carry-on ignited in an overhead bin on flight CA139 from Hangzhou to Seoul, sending flames and smoke through the cabin as seen in passenger images and video.
• Cabin crew followed emergency procedures with fire extinguishers and the pilots declared an emergency, diverting to Shanghai Pudong, where the aircraft landed safely at about 11:05 a.m. local time with no injuries reported.
• Flight-tracking data show the Airbus A321 (registration B-8583) departed Hangzhou at 9:47 a.m., made a turn over the sea, and then headed to Shanghai for the unscheduled landing.
• Air China said passengers were re-accommodated on a replacement aircraft to continue to Seoul after the diversion.
• Authorities are examining the device’s compliance with carriage rules as the incident refocuses attention on lithium-ion battery risks and recent policy tightening on power banks aboard flights.