Virgin Australia flight met by firefighters at Melbourne airport after smoke seen coming from vape
A Virgin Australia flight landed safely in Melbourne after smoke was detected from a vape device onboard, prompting a precautionary response from firefighters.Summary
A Virgin Australia flight VA328 from Brisbane to Melbourne landed safely after smoke was observed emanating from a vape device shortly before landing at approximately 4pm on Sunday. A passenger alerted the crew, who contained the device, and the pilots declared a “pan” call, indicating a situation requiring expedited arrival. Firefighters met the aircraft at the gate as a precaution and removed the device. Virgin Australia stated that passenger and crew safety is their highest priority. The incident highlights the fire risk associated with lithium batteries in vapes, which are more prone to failure than those in power banks due to lower quality and fewer safety features. The airline’s policy requires vapes to be carried in carry-on luggage only, and follows a similar incident in July involving a power bank, leading to revised safety protocols.
(Source：The Guardian)
