Panic erupted among passengers and staff at Berlin Airport when a backpack suddenly caught fire. The incident happened in a terminal, where the black backpack was engulfed in flames while luggage nearby remained untouched. Security personnel quickly extinguished the blaze using a fire extinguisher, as shown in a video shared online.
A woman close to the scene managed to run away quickly; however, she slipped and nearly got seriously hurt. The owner of the backpack received a minor burn and was not injured elsewhere.
A traveler who was there when the incident happened shared a video on social media with the caption, “POV: Minding my own business getting ready to board a flight in Berlin, and then all h*ll breaks loose after someone’s backpack spontaneously combusts.” They also added, *I’m counting my blessings this didn’t happen 30 minutes later while on the plane.”
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Discussions have filled the internet with chatter regarding the dangers associated with electronic devices and their batteries. One user commented, “There is a reason airlines ask if you have any lithium batteries in your luggage. People are stubborn and don’t take this seriously.” Another remarked on the video, “People’s reactions are crazy. and the guy with the extinguisher is like. yeah, normal day.” A third highlighted the potential danger during flights, saying, “Imagine this happening on a flight. This is why it’s important to follow airline and aviation regulations.”
Lithium-ion batteries are used in many devices such as mobile phones, laptops, and power banks. Due to the possibility of overheating or short-circuiting, these batteries are prohibited from carry-on baggage. In cargo holds, this may cause smoke, flames, and potentially explosions. It is rare, but such events do occur. Between 2006 and 2023, the Federal Aviation Administration reported 481 fires involving lithium batteries. Cases have been increasing since 2014. The FAA has suggested a few ways to reduce risk, such as inspecting the devices for damage or recalls before traveling, packing them in protective cases, and turning them off when they are not in use. They advise alerting crew members promptly if a device is overheating in the air as they are trained to control such an incident with extinguishers and thermal containment bags.
