Mid-air horror: Powerbank fire forces British Airways flight back to Gatwick

A British Airways flight from Spain was forced to return to Gatwick Airport after a passenger's power bank fire erupted in his pocket, causing burns to one man and smoke inhalation concerns for others. The incident occurred around 15 minutes after take-off, prompting cabin crew to tackle the blaze and evacuate passengers. British Airways praised their crew's response and apologized for the disruption, while the extent of injuries remains unclear.

Power banks, which use lithium-ion batteries, can overheat and catch fire if damaged or faulty, posing risks within an enclosed aircraft cabin. The airline restricts passengers to two power banks per person, which must be carried in hand baggage and comply with storage requirements. The incident has sparked debate over whether stricter restrictions or a complete ban on power banks is needed to prevent similar incidents.

Brief written by urgent.news from Euro Weekly News's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.