Smoke fills Royal Brunei Airlines cabin after power bank explodes
Brunei’s national carrier said no passengers or crew members were injured after a power bank device exploded and caught fire mid-flight.
Video footage uploaded on Facebook showed the Royal Brunei Airlines cabin filled with smoke as panicked passengers were seen in discomfort covering their faces.
All standard operating procedures were followed and crew quickly extinguished the fire, Royal Brunei said in a statement.
The flight, which departed Hong Kong, landed in Brunei’s capital Bandar Seri Begawan without incident.
It has sparked an online debate in Brunei over the sale and use of cheap generic powerbanks.
The devices are banned from checked bags on most airlines globally but can be transported in carry-on luggage.
The International Civil Aviation Organization’s latest guidance says no powerbanks with a capacity exceeding the equivalent of 27,000 mAh should be allowed on flights.
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season