What happened
On 10 March 2018, a Bombardier DHC-8-400 operated by Porter Airlines was en route from Halifax, Nova Scotia, to Montreal, Quebec. The aircraft was carrying 72 passengers and 4 crew members at the time of the incident. While flying approximately 45 nautical miles southwest of Fredericton International Airport in New Brunswick, passengers notified the cabin crew of a burning smell and visible sparks coming from the area behind an overhead bin.
Upon being alerted, the crew notified the flight deck and performed an inspection of the overhead bin. Although the smell began to fade and no active fire was observed during the inspection, the pilots declared a MAYDAY. The flight was diverted to Fredericton Airport, where the aircraft landed safely. Following the landing, the crew performed a rapid deplaning of all occupants. There were no injuries reported during the event, and all passengers were moved to the terminal.
The investigation
The TSB conducted a Class 4 investigation into the event, focusing on the circumstances surrounding the reported electrical activity in the cabin area.