A Thai Lion Air passenger jet was evacuated at New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido on July 10 after a traveler's power bank caught fire and emitted smoke, prompting an emergency response that ensured the safe disembarkation of all 122 passengers on board.
The incident occurred aboard flight SL393, which was parked at the international terminal and preparing for departure to Bangkok via Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Shortly before 2:00 pm local time, crew members detected smoke inside the cabin and immediately alerted airport fire services.
Firefighters arrived to find that the smoking power bank had already been moved outside the aircraft. As the flames did not spread, no water was sprayed on the fuselage, and the situation was declared under control by approximately 2:15 p.m.
Preliminary police investigations indicate that a foreign passenger accidentally dropped their carry-on luggage inside the cabin. The impact from the fall apparently damaged the power bank stored inside, causing it to emit smoke. The passenger quickly removed the device from the aircraft, preventing further escalation.
Airport officials confirmed that all passengers and crew members were evacuated safely within a short period, with no injuries reported. Local police and fire authorities are continuing to investigate the exact cause of the incident, including possible factors such as device aging, external impact, or internal battery failure.
Comment