Gatwick mid-air flight emergency as phone charger bursts into flames injuring passenger

A British Airways passenger suffered burns when a portable phone charger he was carrying burst into flames during a flight, The Standard understands.

A power bank is understood to have ignited in a male passenger’s pocket around 15 minutes into the flight sending fellow passengers into panic.

One passenger said that she heard someone shout ‘fire’ and a burning smell before seeing flames halfway down the aisle.

Hero members of the cabin crew came to the man’s aid, putting out the fire and making the device safe.

The man is understood to have suffered burns in the incident and needed treatment.

Other passengers are understood to have sought treatment for smoke inhalation.

The flight returned to Gatwick after the incident.

A passenger described the incident as the “scariest moment” of her life, in a post online after the flight touched down.

“Safety is always our top priority and our flight landed back at Gatwick following this incident,” a British Airway spokesperson said.

“We're extremely grateful for the actions of our crew on the flight to resolve the issue swiftly and safely.

“We're sorry to our customers for the delay to their travel plans and thank them for bearing with us.”

The incident took place on a flight from Gatwick on Thursday morning.

Portable power banks typically contain lithium-ion batteries, which can overheat and, in rare cases, catch fire if damaged or faulty.

Airlines impose safety rules on the carriage and use of such devices, and passengers should follow their carrier’s instructions.

The Civil Aviation Authority is reminding passengers all devices, such as power banks or vapes, that contain lithium batteries should be carried in the cabin and never put in hold bags.

Glenn Bradley, Head of Flight Operations at the UK Civil Aviation Authority said: “We commend the British Airways flight crew, the emergency services and the team at Gatwick Airport for their prompt and effective response in bringing the situation safely under control and managing the welfare of the passengers.

“While lithium batteries are safe when transported and used correctly, they can pose a fire risk in certain circumstances. We encourage passengers to familiarise themselves with airline requirements and our guidance on travelling with lithium battery powered devices, including power banks, to ensure they are carried in the cabin.”