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

Last Update: July 21, 2025 / 09:05:55 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 is still on the ground in Hobart about 10 hours after landing.
Aircraft Registration Data
Registration mark
VH-YFY
Country of Registration
Australia
Date of Registration
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Airworthyness Category
Cnjb mqhgfl hppkm Subscribe to unlock
TCDS Ident. No.
Khiij Subscribe to unlock
Manufacturer
THE BOEING COMPANY
Aircraft Model / Type
737-800
ICAO Aircraft Type
B738
Year of Manufacture
Fqed Subscribe to unlock
Serial Number
Qjidg Subscribe to unlock
Maximum Take off Mass (MTOM) [kg]
P nmf Subscribe to unlock
Engine Count
C Subscribe to unlock
Engine
NmAjke ibndleilcAhjiiA Amgkgqkg mhbcinnikkqe Subscribe to unlock
Main Owner
Hjceeflbmqpqcnflh df blA nlniAkb iepqbfcfAinnike qibibjAkipmpb jAdccp nejlmbbckefni cdkhdh jhgfkmcm gkiqg Subscribe to unlock
Main Operator
Fjcqkd ccilAcqk kqfqmfcefnn cjgeAijggAnbhipkdqndbbidgbAeilkAbdApfdpdlfqeAndjmeijbcqljmemphkdn 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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