Virgin Australia B738 near Hobart on Jul 21st 2025, fire in cabin

Last Update: December 19, 2025 / 18:10:25 GMT/Zulu time

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Incident Facts

Date of incident
Jul 21, 2025

Classification
Incident

Airline
Virgin Australia

Flight number
VA-1528

Departure
Sydney, Australia

Destination
Hobart, Australia

Aircraft Registration
VH-YFY

Aircraft Type
Boeing 737-800

ICAO Type Designator
B738

A Virgin Australia Boeing 737-800, registration VH-YFY performing flight VA-1528 from Sydney,NS to Hobart,TA (Australia), had been enroute at FL380 and was initiating the descent towards Hobart when smoke emanated from an overhead locker in the cabin. Cabin crew doused the fire. The flight crew declared emergency and continued the approach to Hobart for a safe landing on runway 30 about 20 minutes later.

The airline reported the aircraft landed safely in Hobart, firefighters boarded the aircraft and removed a bag from the overhead locker.

Passengers reported there was a funny smell at first, then about 10 minutes prior to landing smoke became visible. When cabin crew opened the overhead locker, a small ball of fire burst out. Cabin crew doused the fire with water after realizing that there was some sort of charging device, possibly Lithium Ion battery, had overheated in someone's bag.

A replacement Boeing 737-800 registration VH-YFV performed the return flight with a delay of about 5 hours.

The occurrence aircraft was still on the ground in Hobart about 10 hours after landing.

On Dec 19th 2025 the ATSB released their final report concluding the probable cause of the serious incident was:

During the descent, a passenger's lithium-ion power bank, located in the overhead locker, overheated due to thermal runaway and began to emit flames and smoke.

Other factors that increased risk

- Due to the timing of the fire starting on descent, the cabin crew had limited time to complete the procedure for managing a lithium battery fire.

- The cabin crew attempted to use the protective breathing equipment provided by the operator but did not find it effective when managing the lithium battery fire.

The ATSB analysed:

Power bank thermal runaway

For unknown reasons, one of the cells in a lithium-ion power bank stored in an overhead locker failed during the descent into Hobart. In this case, there was no reported pre-existing damage, or any other identified problems with this power bank prior to flight. However, the power bank was stored with a cable in it and the ports uncovered, both factors which can increase the risk of a fault.

Inspection of the power bank post-flight, combined with the cabin crew reports of sounds they were trained to expect in the event of a lithium battery fire, suggested that the fire was characteristic of a thermal runaway. As the temperature of the power bank continued to increase, smoke, followed by flames resulted.

Completion of firefighting procedures

As described in the operator’s procedures, fires on board aircraft can spread quickly. As the aircraft was already on descent when the smoke was initially observed, there was limited time for the cabin crew to manage the power bank fire by completing all the procedures they were trained to do in response to an in-flight fire. In addition, they had the responsibility to ensure the cabin was secure for landing.

In less than 8 minutes, the cabin crew worked together to identify a fire, gather the required equipment, and aggressively fight the fire to a point where the fire appeared suppressed. In addition, they communicated the problem with the flight crew and managed moving passengers to alternative seating.

While the cabin crew had received emergency procedures training, they had never trained for a lithium battery fire in a compressed time. They completed as many of the procedures as they were able to in the available time, but by the time the fire was considered controlled, there was only around 90 seconds for the cabin crew to clear up the cabin and be seated for landing. Besides the logistics and risk that would result from handling the power bank to remove it from the backpack and place it in a fire containment bag, there was no time available.

The cabin crew identified an alternate solution to moving the burnt power bank. While the overhead locker held the water poured on the backpack, there was no assurance that the power bank was going to remain fully submerged for landing, in accordance with the operator’s procedures, or isolated from other lithium battery devices. Although there was no consequence as a result of the power bank remaining in the overhead locker, there was an increased risk of cabin occupant injury and aircraft damage if the power bank re-ignited due to further exposure to fire and smoke.

Protective breathing equipment

Protective breathing equipment (PBE) was available for cabin crew to use if deemed necessary in preparation to fight a fire, and all crew were trained in their use. Two of the cabin crew attempted to use the PBE, but did not find it effective due to fitment and communication/visibility issues. As the cabin crew were unable to use the PBE, they had no protection from the smoke and were placed at an increased risk of smoke inhalation.

While these cabin crew did not experience any residual effects from the smoke, any protective equipment provided should be efficient to don and wear continuously while managing an emergency situation.
Aircraft Registration Data
Registration mark
VH-YFY
Country of Registration
Australia
Date of Registration
HdkcAilblld c Subscribe to unlock
Airworthyness Category
MfqeimbAbmjbplbqlh Subscribe to unlock
TCDS Ident. No.
Qpldj Subscribe to unlock
Manufacturer
THE BOEING COMPANY
Aircraft Model / Type
737-800
ICAO Aircraft Type
B738
Year of Manufacture
Afkn Subscribe to unlock
Serial Number
Iinnk Subscribe to unlock
Maximum Take off Mass (MTOM) [kg]
Dgnpb Subscribe to unlock
Engine Count
L Subscribe to unlock
Engine
LdjjmfjqlnenjhbggbbbgidpdAgAqbpdlAjgmcl hebe Subscribe to unlock
Main Owner
AnmnhhmhklAdklinqeeeicpljgmlgnbAjAcdmjlhghfmelplfpgilbmlhdmiimimhhengiAmihghnmcmhfkpbhbhgphnn edhq dfgqgj Subscribe to unlock
Main Operator
Fihppmilp igjlqpihhbgghAgilndjiAbqfnk idApemnq pfcgpgmgfecfmdmmmlkcgelk dhAbpjgccmijkpckkfnbj Subscribe to unlock
Incident Facts

Date of incident
Jul 21, 2025

Classification
Incident

Airline
Virgin Australia

Flight number
VA-1528

Departure
Sydney, Australia

Destination
Hobart, Australia

Aircraft Registration
VH-YFY

Aircraft Type
Boeing 737-800

ICAO Type Designator
B738

This article is published under license from Avherald.com. © of text by Avherald.com.
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