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A KLM flight from Amsterdam to Curaçao was forced to turn back to Schiphol on Thursday after a passenger’s powerbank burst into flames over the Atlantic Ocean, in the second such incident on a KLM aircraft in the space of a year.
What happened
The Boeing 777, flight KL735, had departed Schiphol on Thursday afternoon and was already out over the Atlantic when the portable battery caught fire in the cabin. According to KLM, the cabin crew quickly brought the blaze under control, acting in line with the airline’s procedures, but the pilots decided, as a precaution, to return to Amsterdam rather than continue. By then the aircraft had been in the air for several hours. One man suffered light burns, and passengers were rebooked onto other flights, though KLM said it was not certain everyone could be accommodated on the next service to Curaçao.
A complaint later filed with KLM by another passenger, seen by De Telegraaf, described the fire's severity in stark terms, saying there were “flames up to the ceiling”.
A former KLM boss?
Much of the attention has focused on who was charging the device. According to multiple sources cited by NU.nl and De Telegraaf, the powerbank belonged to a former KLM director, whom several outlets have named as Camiel Eurlings. Eurlings, a former Christian Democrat politician and minister of transport, briefly led KLM around a decade ago. Sources told NU.nl he had been sitting in business class and had fallen asleep while the powerbank was charging.
It is worth treating the identification with some care: it rests on anonymous sources, and KLM has said it will not confirm the identity of the passenger involved, citing privacy. Reached by one broadcaster, Eurlings did not immediately give a full response.
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The rules on powerbanks
Beyond the personalities, the incident is a pointed reminder of rules that many travellers overlook. Powerbanks contain lithium-ion batteries that can overheat and catch fire, so airlines treat them with caution. On KLM flights, passengers may carry a maximum of two powerbanks, only in hand luggage, and they may not be stored in the overhead lockers. Using or charging a powerbank during the flight is not permitted at all, precisely so that any problem is spotted immediately. “Always keep yours with you,” the airline advises.
This is the second powerbank incident on a KLM flight in around a year. Last year, an overheating powerbank in a backpack caused smoke in the cabin of a KLM aircraft flying from São Paulo to Amsterdam, roughly four hours before landing; that fire, too, was extinguished on board.
KLM says it is investigating Thursday’s incident, and that it is too early to say more. For passengers, the takeaway is simpler: keep your powerbank in the cabin with you, and do not try to charge it in the air.