Overview

• On August 7, a power bank stored in an overhead bin on KLM Flight KL792 from São Paulo ignited mid-flight, filling the cabin with thick smoke before the aircraft diverted to Amsterdam.
• Cabin crew donned smoke hoods and deployed handheld extinguishers to contain the blaze before the plane landed safely with no injuries reported.
• This event follows a series of lithium-ion power bank fires on airlines such as Air Busan and Virgin Australia that prompted safety reviews and operational changes.
• Carriers including Singapore Airlines, EVA Air and Southwest Airlines have since mandated cabin-only storage for power banks and required visible charging under crew oversight.
• Regulators including the IATA, CAAC and UK CAA have tightened watt-hour limits and certification requirements, and Emirates will ban in-flight power bank use from October 1, 2025.