Occurrence
On May 22, 2018, approximately 10 minutes after departure, cabin crew in the rear galley of a Boeing 737-800 were alerted by shouts and cries for help from passengers. They observed smoke and a pungent odor in the rear cabin section. The crew immediately took action to address the threat, retrieving a halon fire extinguisher and proceeding toward the smoke source. Simultaneously, the forward galley crew was informed.
Response
The source of the smoke was located in a passenger's bag. The bag was handed to cabin crew, who promptly began extinguishing the fire with a halon extinguisher. Within seconds, additional crew members arrived with extra fire extinguishers and a smoke hood. After inspecting the bag, it was determined that the smoke source was a power bank. Once extinguished, the power bank was placed into a catering container and doused with water.
Cause
The cause of the incident was the presence of a power bank of unknown power in hand luggage and its spontaneous ignition.
Investigation and Actions
The operator conducted an investigation. The investigation did not specify any injuries or damage to the aircraft. The operator proposed several preventive actions, including verifying the placement of protective gloves, updating relevant documentation, relocating gloves to forward and aft galleys, and distributing informational bulletins to ground handlers and travel agencies regarding portable energy sources. The Polish State Commission on Aircraft Accident Investigation did not issue safety recommendations but commented on the increasing frequency of incidents involving electronic devices with lithium batteries in carry-on baggage, emphasizing the need for passenger education and security screening awareness.