Emergency Response After Vape Explosion Onboard
A Virgin Australia flight sparked panic at Melbourne Airport after a fire broke out in the cabin. The incident happened as the plane prepared to land, forcing air traffic controllers to put other aircraft in a holding pattern.
The blaze was reportedly caused by a vape device that exploded mid-flight, triggering a major emergency response with over a dozen emergency vehicles rushing to the scene.
Plane Lands Safely, Passengers Evacuated Calmly
The Virgin Australia flight VA328, arriving from Brisbane, landed safely at around 4.45pm on Sunday. Emergency crews were standing by and met the aircraft on the tarmac.
Passengers and crew disembarked normally with no injuries reported. A Virgin Australia spokesperson praised the crew’s quick action: “The safety of our guests and crew is our highest priority, and we thank our crew for their swift response in containing the device.”
Vape Legality and Safety Rules Affected
- Vapes are legal to carry in carry-on luggage in Australia but banned from checked baggage.
- Devices must be switched off and cannot be used or recharged onboard.
- Only personal use quantities of vapes and e-cigarettes are allowed; commercial quantities are prohibited.
- Spare batteries must be individually protected per airline battery rules.
The incident follows recent safety upgrades by Virgin Australia, Qantas, and Jetstar after a power bank fire onboard last year resulted in new restrictions on portable chargers and power banks.
More Safety Incidents Prompt Stricter Rules
In July, a power bank caught fire in an overhead locker aboard a Virgin flight from Sydney to Hobart. Cabin crew quickly evacuated the affected area and extinguished the flames, discovering a burnt power bank inside a passenger’s backpack.
Following that, airlines imposed new rules from December 1 banning the use of power banks during flights and introduced limits on the size and number of passengers that can be carried.
