Lithium battery explodes on Air China Flight, forces emergency landing

A shocking incident reported after flames erupted from an Air China flight, sparked chaos as a lithium battery burst into flames.

According to Chinese state media, a flight from Hangzhou to Seoul was forced to make an emergency landing in Shanghai on Saturday October 18, 2025 after a lithium battery exploded and caught fire in the plane’s cabin.

A statement released by Air China confirmed the incident about battery explosion.

“On October 18, on flight CA139 from Hangzhou to Incheon, a lithium battery in a passenger’s carry-on luggage stored in the overhead compartment spontaneously ignited," the airline said.

All flight passengers on CA139 were left shaken after the sudden unexpected explosion in the overhead compartment set luggage cabin on fire.

As an emergency response, the cabin crew quickly brought the situation under control and the pilot decided to divert the aircraft for an emergency landing at Shanghai Pudong International Airport.

According to Air China officials, the plane landed safely and there were no reports of injuries among passengers or crew.

The fire incident sparked new safety concerns and the ongoing risks of carrying lithium batteries in luggage, reports airline.

Furthermore, Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) had already banned passengers from carrying power banks and other lithium batteries in domestic flights in June, 2025.

"Batteries without the standard 3C labelling and lithium-ion batteries, often found in power banks, have been banned, a move prompted by an increase in batteries catching fire on board," reports CAAC.