A vape device exploded mid-flight on Virgin Australia flight VA328, causing panic as the plane prepared to land at Melbourne Airport. The sudden blaze led to a major emergency response, with over a dozen fire and rescue vehicles rushing to the scene.
Air traffic controllers were forced to hold other aircraft in the air, resulting in delays to scheduled flights. Despite the chaos, the Brisbane-to-Melbourne flight landed safely at approximately 4:45pm on Sunday.
Emergency crews were on standby on the tarmac as passengers and crew disembarked calmly. Fortunately, no injuries were reported following the incident.
A Virgin Australia spokesperson praised the crew’s quick action, stating, “The safety of our guests and crew is our highest priority, and we thank our crew for their swift response in containing the device.”
Following the incident, vape device regulations have been tightened. Vapes are permitted in carry-on luggage but banned in checked bags. Devices must be switched off and are not allowed to be used or recharged during flights. Only personal-use quantities of vape devices are permitted, with commercial amounts prohibited. Spare batteries must comply with airline safety regulations and be individually protected.
This event follows previous safety concerns, including a power bank fire onboard a Virgin Australia flight last year. In July, a power bank caught fire in an overhead locker on a Virgin flight from Sydney to Hobart. The crew promptly extinguished the fire and evacuated nearby passengers.
Investigations revealed the burnt power bank was inside a passenger’s backpack. Since then, Virgin Australia, Qantas, and Jetstar have implemented stricter safety protocols, banning power bank use mid-flight and limiting their size and quantity for passengers. These measures aim to prevent similar dangerous incidents in the future.
Originally published by UKNIP.
