Occurrence
On March 10, 2018, a Bombardier DHC-8-400 aircraft operated by Porter Airlines was conducting a flight from Halifax, Nova Scotia, to Montreal, Quebec. The aircraft carried 72 passengers and 4 crew members. At approximately 45 nautical miles southwest of Fredericton International Airport, New Brunswick, passengers alerted cabin crew to a burning odor and sparks emanating from behind an overhead bin. The crew informed the pilots and inspected the area. The odor began to dissipate, and no further signs of fire were evident. Despite this, the pilots declared a MAYDAY and initiated a diversion to Fredericton Airport. After landing, the crew conducted a rapid deplaning. No injuries were reported, and passengers were transported to the terminal.
Investigation
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) investigated the occurrence as a Class 4 investigation. Class 4 investigations are limited in scope and do not produce findings or recommendations. The investigation focused on the in-flight electrical arcing event.