HK Express Flight U0676 bound for Jeju from Hong Kong on 25. Oct. 2026 experienced an onboard safety incident when a power bank overheated and caught fire, leaving one passenger injured.
Despite the scare, the aircraft landed at Jeju International Airport at around 6 a.m. local time, with 236 passengers and seven crew members on board arriving safely.
Passenger Suffers Minor Burn
According to reports, the power bank was stored in a bag beneath a passenger seat before it overheated, emitted smoke, and burned the passenger’s left thumb. The woman in her 50s sustained this minor injury while attempting to retrieve the device.
Cabin crew responded promptly to the situation, placing the device in a heat-resistant fire containment bag and submerging it in water, successfully preventing the situation from escalating. No other passengers or crew members were reported injured.
After arrival, paramedics examined the injured passenger at the scene. She declined ambulance transport and chose instead to seek medical treatment independently.
The Airbus aircraft continued to its destination, landing safely in Jeju. Upon arrival, Paramedics assessed the injured passenger, though she declined ambulance transport reportedly and sought further medical treatment independently.
Growing Concern Over Lithium-Ion Batteries
This incident brings renewed issues regarding the dangers that lithium-ion batteries carried in electronic devices in the aircraft cabin. Both regulators and airlines have raised concerns on numerous occasions in recent years and have tightened regulations on power banks due to overheating issues.
HK Express requires passengers to keep power banks in the cabin and prohibits portable batteries during flights. Although the passenger reportedly followed airline guidance by storing it under their seat, the device still overheated and demonstrated that risks remain even when regulations are followed.
Airline Responds
The airline apologised following the incident on the flight. HK Express further reported that no other injuries occurred.
While relatively rare, lithium-ion battery incidents continue to be a concern for airlines and regulators, with crew training and specialised containment equipment becoming essential tools in helping manage such events safely.
Have you noticed airlines introducing stricter rules on power banks and electronic devices during your recent flights?
