Ryanair flight from Brussels to Lisbon lands after powerbank fire in cabin

The fire on the Brussels to Lisbon flight

Ryanair flight FR3610, operated by a Boeing 737-800, was flying from Brussels-Charleroi to Lisbon on the morning of Sunday, 1 November. Around 09:00 a fire broke out in a hand-luggage bag, and Portuguese outlets reported that a powerbank belonging to a passenger had probably caused it. Those reports present the powerbank as a possibility rather than a confirmed cause. The crew extinguished the blaze while the aircraft was still in the air, so the fire was out before the landing. Aviação TV reported that no passenger or crew member was injured.

Emergency landing and damage

The aircraft landed at Lisbon's Humberto Delgado airport, where emergency services were mobilised. The Lisbon fire brigade, the Regimento de Sapadores Bombeiros de Lisboa, confirmed the incident to Correio da Manhã and said the response was a precaution because the crew had already put the fire out. The fire partly destroyed the floor of the aisle and one seat, and damaged the seat in front of where the fire started. After stopping on the runway for a few minutes, the aircraft taxied under its own power to a parking position, without direct intervention from airport emergency services, according to Aviação TV. Local media said it would remain in Lisbon until the damaged interior is repaired. One SAPO report also said passengers were evacuated after landing, a detail the other reports do not mention.

Powerbank rules for passengers

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (AESA) warns that lithium batteries can catch fire when they are damaged, overheat or short-circuit. Powerbanks must travel in hand luggage, protected against short circuits, and never in the hold. Ryanair's published rules allow up to two powerbanks per passenger, each rated at no more than 100 Wh. They must be carried on the passenger or in a bag under the seat in front, not in overhead bins, and they may not be charged during the flight. If a battery behaves abnormally during a journey, AESA advises telling the crew immediately.

Status of the investigation

A SAPO report said Ryanair had issued a statement saying its safety procedures were followed and that it would cooperate with the authorities. According to the same report, airport authorities were called to the aircraft to investigate, and the inquiry into the cause was still continuing. The airport reported no significant disruption to its operations.