Incident Overview
On December 7, 2016, a China Airlines Boeing 737-800 aircraft, registration B-18605, operated as flight CI027 from Roman Tmetuchl International Airport in Palau to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport. The aircraft carried 141 occupants: two pilots, six cabin crew, and 133 passengers. At approximately 1940 local time, while cruising at 38,000 feet over the Manila Flight Information Region, a passenger's mobile phone that was being charged produced smoke. Cabin crew members responded promptly, extinguishing the smoke and securing the phone. After assessing the situation, the captain deemed it safe to continue the flight. The aircraft landed safely at Taoyuan Airport at 2205.
Sequence of Events
Flight CI027 departed from Palau at 1810, climbing normally to cruise altitude. At around 1940, a cabin crew member (3L) was collecting trays in the forward cabin when a passenger reported smoke. The crew member observed a smoking phone on the floor near row 15. Two other crew members retrieved a water fire extinguisher from position 3R and handed it to the 3L crew member, who used it to suppress the smoke. Simultaneously, a crew member (3RA) informed the captain via interphone. After extinguishing the smoke, the purser monitored the phone with the extinguisher for about 10 minutes. Once the situation was under control, the purser donned protective gloves and placed the phone into an ice bucket filled with cold water for continued observation. The passenger in seat 15C stated that the phone was charging in the seatback pocket when it emitted smoke; they removed it and dropped it on the floor. No fire was observed. The captain transferred control to the first officer, went to the cabin to assess, and found that the smoke had been eliminated, leaving only water stains and a burnt odor. The flight crew decided to continue to the destination, instructing the cabin crew to monitor the phone. The flight landed safely.
Investigation Findings
The investigation, conducted by the Aviation Safety Council (ASC) of Taiwan, with participation from the Civil Aeronautics Administration, National Communications Commission, China Airlines, and Samsung Electronics, determined that the phone's battery likely short-circuited during charging, generating high heat within the enclosed phone casing, causing combustion, carbonization, and smoke. The cabin crew had received firefighting training and effectively followed procedures. The flight crew adhered to China Airlines' protocols for checking fire sources and assessing flight safety. No other risk-related findings were identified. The aircraft, crew, and passengers were not harmed; no damage to the aircraft occurred.
Conclusions
The investigation concluded with five findings. One finding related to probable cause: the battery likely short-circuited during charging. Four other findings noted no involvement of flight crew, aircraft weight/balance, maintenance, or airworthiness; the cabin crew's effective response; the flight crew's proper decision-making; and a suggestion that airlines may evaluate the need for lithium battery fire suppression equipment. No safety recommendations were issued.