Pegasus flight halted as passenger device sparks mid-taxi incident

Passengers aboard a Pegasus Airlines flight from Ankara to Izmir were evacuated on the taxiway after a portable power bank belonging to a passenger began emitting smoke, Turkish media reported.

The aircraft had been taxiing toward the runway in preparation for departure when the device started to malfunction. According to the report, the pilots halted the aircraft immediately and alerted air traffic control.

Passengers were swiftly evacuated using inflatable emergency slides. No injuries were reported in the incident.

The device responsible for the disruption was subsequently examined by specialists and removed from the aircraft. There were not only signs of smoke but also indications of internal ignition within the power bank.

The incident underscores ongoing safety concerns surrounding lithium-ion battery devices on aircraft. In 2025, Türkiye’s General Directorate of Civil Aviation introduced restrictions on carrying portable battery-powered charging devices in aircraft cabins, citing fire risks.

Under the current regulations, power banks remain permitted on flights but must be transported in checked baggage rather than carried into the cabin.

By Tamilla Hasanova