An Air China flight from Hangzhou to Seoul was forced to make an emergency landing in Shanghai after a lithium battery in a passenger’s bag caught fire midair, officials confirmed.
According to Gulf News, the incident occurred on Flight CA139, where the battery—stored in an overhead compartment—suddenly ignited during flight. The cabin crew responded swiftly, extinguishing the flames before any injuries or major damage occurred.
The aircraft, which departed from Hangzhou at 9:47 AM, safely landed at Shanghai Pudong International Airport around 11 AM.
Fire breaks out in the overhead luggage bin on board Air China flight CA139 while flying between Hangzhou and Seoul.
It is understood that the cause of the fire was a lithium battery in a passenger’s luggage spontaneously combusting.
The cabin crew contained the fire and the… pic.twitter.com/IV5LEYxIy5
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Chinese media images showed smoke and flames emerging from the overhead bins, while one passenger was seen assisting the crew in containing the fire.
Data from flight-tracking website Flightradar24 revealed that the plane made a U-turn over the sea before heading back toward China.
In a statement, Air China confirmed that an investigation is underway, emphasizing that the safety of passengers and crew remains its top priority.
