Cabin crew on Virgin Australia domestic flight VA1528 from Sydney to Hobart were able to quickly prevent a fire from breaking out on board.
The fire started from a battery in a device stowed in a passenger’s bag in the aircraft’s overhead compartment.
According to the airline, flight attendants at the rear of the Boeing 737-800 noticed smoke emanating from a bag stowed in an overhead compartment and were able to extinguish the fire.
Fortunately, neither the crew nor passengers on board were injured, and the pilots safely landed the Boeing 737-800 at its final destination airport, where it was examined by dangerous goods experts and firefighters.
Upon the flight’s arrival, Hobart Airport Manager Matt Cocker said: “Cabin crew members on Virgin Australia flight VA1528 successfully averted a major incident that may have been caused by a battery igniting in a device stored in a passenger’s hand luggage.”