Air China Flight Diverts After Battery Fire

On Oct. 18, Air China Flight CA139 from Hangzhou to Seoul diverted to Shanghai Pudong after a lithium‑ion battery in a passenger’s carry‑on stored in an overhead bin spontaneously ignited about 40 minutes into the flight, sending flames and thick smoke into the cabin. Passenger photos and video show bright orange flames, heavy smoke and scorched seat linings as two crew members ran down the aisle with extinguishers and helped bring the blaze under control; emergency responders finished extinguishing remaining fire and all passengers and crew disembarked without injuries. The Airbus A321 landed at Shanghai Pudong around 11 a.m., and a replacement plane later completed the journey to Seoul. Air China said an investigation is under way and officials have not confirmed the device’s brand, though local reports and footage suggested it may have been an uncertified power bank. The incident underscores the fire risk from lithium‑ion batteries in carry‑on luggage and follows recent tightening of rules on power banks and restrictions on batteries in checked baggage.