Vape Fire on Plane Triggers Emergency Response at Melbourne Airport
A vape ignited on a Virgin Australia flight preparing to land at melbourne airport, triggering an emergency response and a precautionary holding pattern before the aircraft landed safely.
Melbourne Airport: PAN Call, Holding Pattern and On-Ground Response
Melbourne Airport received a PAN call from Virgin Australia flight VA328 from Brisbane as the aircraft prepared to land. Planes were placed in a holding pattern above the airport at about 4. 30pm while emergency services were placed on standby. The Boeing 737 landed safely and taxied to the gate, with emergency crews meeting the aircraft on the tarmac about 4. 45pm. Passengers and staff disembarked normally.
A Melbourne Airport spokesperson said: “This afternoon Melbourne Airport responded to a PAN call from Virgin Australia flight VA328 from Brisbane after reports a vape had ignited on board the aircraft. As a precaution and in accordance with standard procedures, emergency services were placed on standby. The Boeing 737 aircraft landed safely and taxied to the gate where passengers were able to disembark normally. ” Aviation Rescue Firefighters followed the plane as a precaution and later removed the vape from the aircraft.
Crew Action, Airline Guidance and Earlier Power-Bank Incident
Crew intervention contained the device onboard and the airline thanked staff for their response. A Virgin spokeswoman said: ‘The safety of our guests and crew is our highest priority, and we thank our crew for their swift response in containing the device. ‘
In Australia it is legal to carry a vape in carry-on baggage but not in checked luggage. Virgin Australia guidance states items must be prevented from being accidentally turned on when carried or packed on board; smoking devices cannot be used or recharged in flight; vapes and e-cigarettes are allowed only for personal use; and spare batteries must be individually protected under the airline’s battery carriage rules.
The incident follows earlier action by the airline after a separate power-bank fire. The carrier introduced new rules for power banks months earlier, after cabin crew on a different flight noticed a hissing sound from an overhead locker about 10 minutes before landing. On that earlier flight the nearby area was evacuated, affected passengers were moved to other seats, crew opened the locker to find a backpack on fire, extinguished the flames, and firefighters later found a burnt power bank inside the bag.
The immediate situation at melbourne airport concluded with a safe landing and normal disembarkation; emergency services remained involved on the ground to remove the device and ensure there was no further risk. Officials and the airline have emphasized the need to follow carriage and battery safety rules for vapes and related devices.
