Incident Overview
On 2 November 2022, an Airbus A320-214 registered F-HEPJ, operated by Air France, was conducting flight AF9421 from Malaga-Costa del Sol Airport (Spain) to Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport. The aircraft was on final approach for runway 26L at approximately 2,000 ft. The passengers were seated with seatbelts fastened, and cabin crew were at their stations with seatbelts fastened.
The Fire
An electronic cigarette in the trouser pocket of a passenger seated in row 29 at the rear of the cabin suddenly overheated and caught fire. The passenger stood up, grabbed the burning object, burning his hand, and dropped it. The cigarette fell between two seats under the armrest, continuing to burn and releasing sparks and heat.
Crew Response
Two cabin crew members stationed at the rear observed the fire and released their seatbelts. One crew member (PNC 1) immediately donned protective equipment including a breathing hood and gloves. The second crew member (PNC 2) contacted the captain by telephone to report the fire and then attempted to put on her hood but was unable to correctly position it. The burned passenger moved toward the rear galley, while a neighboring passenger pushed the cigarette to the floor. PNC 1 grabbed a fire extinguisher and activated it on the fire, then retrieved the battery that had separated from the cigarette and placed it in the galley sink. PNC 2 chose to put the battery in a container filled with water, as the portable electronic device (PED) kit was located at the front of the aircraft. The passenger with burns held his hand under running water. The captain instructed the co-pilot to focus on avoiding a missed approach and maintained communication with the cabin crew. Prior to landing, PNC 2 ensured passengers were seated, and PNC 1 returned to his seat. The landing was uneventful. After landing, the captain requested medical assistance at the gate, and the injured passenger was moved forward for evacuation.
Aircraft and Crew Details
The captain, aged 49, held an Airline Transport Pilot Licence with A320 type rating, with approximately 15,900 flight hours including 4,500 on type. The co-pilot, aged 25, also held an ATPL(A) with A320 type rating and had 1,800 flight hours (116 on type). The cabin crew comprised four members: two at the front and two at the rear. PNC 1, aged 34, joined in September 2018. PNC 2, aged 34, joined in February 2020 but her training was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic; she completed training in March 2022. The flight was the first of the day for this crew.
Electronic Cigarette Information
The burned passenger stated he did not know the model of the electronic cigarette, which he had purchased about one year earlier. He used a standard 18650 lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 2,500 mA/h. The battery had been fully charged the previous night, and he last used the cigarette just before arriving at the airport. He thought the device was off when boarding but was not certain. He noted a minor malfunction: the cigarette would turn off unexpectedly, requiring removal and reinstallation of the battery. The cigarette and battery were handed over to the airport operator for destruction; the BEA could not examine them.
Procedures
The operator's cabin fire procedure includes locating the fire, informing pilots, donning hood and fire extinguisher, attacking the fire, and managing passengers. The Manual allows crew initiative.