OVERHEATED

Airport Passenger Hospitalized After Catching Fire in Lounge

Nearby passengers reportedly heard screams and saw “battery acid flying everywhere.”

A passenger at Melbourne Airport in Australia sustained severe burns to his leg and fingers after his phone battery overheated and exploded in his pocket on Thursday morning. The 50-year-old man was waiting in the Qantas business lounge when his lithium battery power bank burst into flames. Nearby passengers reportedly heard screams and saw “battery acid flying everywhere” after the device ignited. Staff promptly guided the man to a shower and evacuated around 150 travelers from the lounge. “His jacket caught on fire,” one passenger who witnessed the incident shared on social media. “They evacuated us because the smoke and smell was so strong, but I really just hope the guy is okay.” Another passenger, Leanne Tonkes, shared a photo of the scorched device on the lounge floor to her Instagram. The airline said it was reviewing its policies regarding lithium batteries in the wake of the incident, and have since reopened the lounge. Lithium batteries in devices like laptops and power banks have become a point of debate in aviation safety, but are generally allowed in cabin baggage with some restrictions.