EasyJet flight U2-1517 had hoped for an uneventful flight on May 18th between Geneva (GVA) and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) when the flight was required to turn around after an overhead locker was discovered to be on fire. Operating with 191 passengers onboard the Airbus A320-200, the flight abandoned its climb at 7,000ft before returning to Geneva.

Passengers had reported a popping sound shortly after take-off, in which smoke started appearing from an overhead locker. The lockers were opened, and two bags were engulfed. One bag was reported containing an electronic cigarette that suffered a 'thermal runaway' (poor battery health or maintenance), presumably starting the fire. The fire was able to be extinguished infight by the crew.

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Met by emergency services

The flight landed safely back in Geneva, met by emergency services who boarded and inspected the aircraft. No passengers reported any injuries, and the flight and passengers were delayed to the next day.

Flight U2 1517 quickly turned itself around after the incident took place in the afternoon of May 18th, as reported by Flightradar24.com:

• Originally scheduled to depart from Geneva at 15:10
• Pushed back at 15:51 bound for Amsterdam
• The aircraft starts descent back to Geneva at 16:02
• Landed safety at Geneva by 16:09

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No flight on the 19th

According to Flightradar24.com, the aircraft at the center of the fiasco remained in Geneva for further inspection, resuming operations on May 20th with flight U2 1349 to Figari Sud-Corse Airport (FSC) in Corsica.

HB-JZY, a 13-year-old Airbus A320, was initially registered when brand new for easyJet UK in 2010 (G-EZTS). In 2011, the plane was transferred to its Swiss subsidiary, easyJet Switzerland, where it earned the registration HB-JZY.

Not the first time

As reported by Simple Flying last year, an Air France flight encountered a similar incident when a passenger was injured after an E-Cigarette fire onboard. On November 2nd, Air France flight AF9421 operated a routine intra-European service between Malaga (AGP) and Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG). One of Air France's 36 active Airbus 320s operated the flight, registered F-HEPJ.

When the Airbus 320 was on its final approach on runway 26L at Charles de Gaulle airport, the lithium battery of a passenger's e-cigarette caught fire. The incident led the cabin crew members to intervene immediately, allowing the Air France flight to land safely at the airport. The French Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety (BEA) released a statement that the crew used the dedicated kit, which can be found onboard, to fight the unfortunate event of a fire in the cabin.

According to the European aircraft manufacturer Airbus, Lithium batteries are safe. However, a lack of awareness regarding their characteristics and mishandling or malfunctions can lead to severe hazards.

Another incident was reported in 2021, when a passenger's phone caught on fire on an Alaska Airlines flight from Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) to Seattle Tacoma International (SEA), leading to the deployment of the aircraft's evacuation slides. The 737-900ER operating flight AS751 had touched down in Seattle when the incident occurred.

Sources: Aviation Herald

• 

  easyJet

  IATA/ICAO Code:

  U2/EZY (UK) | EC/EJU (Europe) | DS/EZS (Switzerland)

  Airline Type:

  Low-Cost Carrier

  Hub(s):

  Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, Berlin Brandenburg Airport, Geneva Airport, London Gatwick Airport, London Luton Airport, Milan Malpensa Airport

  Year Founded:

  1995

  CEO:

  Johan Lundgren