Air China diverts flight to Shanghai following lithium battery fire VIDEO

On October 18, 2025, an Air China Airbus A321-200 was forced to make an emergency landing at Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) after a lithium battery caught fire in the cabin.

Fortunately, the aircraft landed safely, and no injuries were recorded, according to foreign media reports.

The aircraft, registered B-8583, was operating flight CA 139 from Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport (HGH) to Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN).

Approximately 20 minutes into the flight, a lithium battery stored in a passenger’s carry-on luggage in the overhead compartment overheated and caught fire.

Fire breaks out in the overhead luggage bin on board Air China flight CA139 while flying between Hangzhou and Seoul.

It is understood that the cause of the fire was a lithium battery in a passenger's luggage spontaneously combusting.

The cabin crew contained the fire and the… pic.twitter.com/IV5LEYxIy5

— Breaking Aviation News & Videos (@aviationbrk) October 18, 2025

According to Air China, the cabin crew quickly contained the fire and managed the situation. Following standard safety procedures, the flight crew decided to divert the aircraft to the nearest airport. The Airbus A321 safely landed at Shanghai Pudong International Airport around 40 minutes after takeoff.

In a statement posted on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, Air China confirmed the incident, stating:

"On October 18, on flight CA139 from Hangzhou to Incheon, a lithium battery in a passenger’s carry-on luggage stored in the overhead compartment spontaneously ignited."

By Tamilla Hasanova