HONG KONG- A Hong Kong Airlines (HX) flight HX115 from Hangzhou (HGH) to Hong Kong (HKG) was forced to make an emergency landing in Fuzhou (FOC), China after a fire erupted in an overhead compartment of the cabin on Thursday, March 20.
Passengers suspect a power bank caused the blaze that disrupted the journey and prompted immediate action from crew members.
Hong Kong Airlines; Photo- FlickrHong Kong Airlines Cabin Fire
The airline confirmed the incident in a statement: “Hong Kong Airlines flight HX115, departing from Hangzhou (HGH) to Hong Kong (HKG) today, diverted and landed safely in Fuzhou Changle International Airport (FOC) due to a fire in the overhead compartment, which was successfully extinguished.”
The carrier added that it is providing support to affected passengers and crew members.
Flight History HX115; Credits- FlightRadar24According to the flight tracking website Flightradar24, the Airbus A320 aircraft departed Hangzhou at 12:20 PM and arrived in Fuzhou at 2:01 PM following the emergency diversion.
Hong Kong Airlines Uçağında Yangın
Hong Kong Airlines’ın #HX115 Hangzhou – Hong Kong uçuşunu gerçekleştiren B-LPC tescilli Airbus A320 uçağının kabininde yangın çıktı.
Mürettebatın hızlı müdahalesiyle yangın kontrol altına alınırken, uçak Fuzhou Changle Havalimanı’na acil iniş… pic.twitter.com/POq8OBMSuf
— HavaSosyalMedya (@HavaSosyalMedya) March 20, 2025
Social media posts from passengers aboard the flight indicated the fire likely originated from a power bank.
Video footage of the incident shows passengers and cabin crew attempting to extinguish the flames using water bottles and carton drinks, with liquid visibly dripping from the luggage racks.
Additional video captured the captain addressing passengers, informing them he was aware of the situation and announcing a “precautionary landing” in Fuzhou to ensure everyone’s safety.
Photo: By Anna Zvereva from Tallinn, Estonia – Cathay Pacific, B-KPL, Boeing 777-367 ER, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=72202271Similar Incidents
This incident follows a troubling pattern of aviation emergencies involving Hong Kong carriers.
In December 2023, a Cathay Pacific flight from London to Hong Kong experienced severe turbulence over the Bering Sea, resulting in injuries to 12 passengers and crew members.
The Boeing 777-300ER encountered unexpected clear-air turbulence at 37,000 feet, sending unbuckled passengers and unsecured items flying through the cabin.
Earlier that year, a Hong Kong Express flight had to return to Hong Kong International Airport shortly after takeoff when smoke was detected in the cargo hold.
The Airbus A320neo, carrying 185 passengers bound for Tokyo, landed safely with no injuries reported, but the incident prompted a comprehensive safety inspection of the airline’s fleet.
In 2019, a more serious accident occurred when a HK Express aircraft suffered a runway excursion during landing at Narita International Airport during adverse weather conditions.
Three passengers sustained minor injuries during the evacuation, and the incident led to enhanced pilot training procedures for difficult weather operations.
These recurring incidents have raised questions about safety protocols and emergency procedures among Hong Kong-based carriers, prompting increased scrutiny from aviation authorities.
The Civil Aviation Department has mandated additional safety reviews and enhanced inspection regimes for airlines operating in the region.
Lithium battery fires have become a growing concern for airlines worldwide, with aviation authorities implementing stricter regulations regarding the transport of power banks and similar devices in both carry-on and checked luggage to prevent such incidents.
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