Royal Brunei Airlines cabin crew calm & composed during power bank explosion, passengers unharmed

Kudos to the cabin crew for dealing with the incident in a calm and professional manner.

Matthias Ang | January 05, 2019, 01:17 PM

On Jan. 3, Royal Brunei Airlines BI636 was en route from Hong Kong to Bandar Seri Begawan when a power bank reportedly exploded mid-flight.

According to several videos and photos uploaded by Facebook user Francis Ngu Hown Hua, the cabin was filled with smoke as a result of the incident.

In case you can't see the videos and photos:

[video width="544" height="960" mp4="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2019/01/42327986_285461768820906_8054518508958266538_n.mp4"][/video]

[video width="544" height="960" mp4="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2019/01/42296995_390172474875661_514296931354168716_n.mp4"][/video]

[video width="362" height="640" mp4="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2019/01/42455647_572235999866542_8521540115385953121_n.mp4"][/video]

Source: Francis Ngu Hown Hua Facebook

Source: Francis Ngu Hown Hua Facebook

Source: Francis Ngu Hown Hua Facebook

Source: Francis Ngu Hown Hua Facebook

However, according to The Borneo Bulletin (TBB), the airlines has since confirmed in a statement that no passengers were hurt and the plane arrived at its destination as scheduled.

Cabin crew calmly extinguishes fire, asks passengers to sit down

Ngu's videos and photos showed three members of the cabin crew -- two women and one man -- dealing with the incident in a professional manner.

In one of Ngu's videos, an audible hiss can be heard as a female cabin crew member, dressed in blue with extinguisher in hand, bends down and puts out what is likely to be the burning power bank.

Another video shows a second female cabin crew member, dressed in orange, and passing a passenger a cloth:

While in the third video, both the first female cabin crew member and her male colleague can be seen addressing the crowd with composure:

Ngu praised the crew in his post for handling the incident in a calm and composed manner.

Following SOP

TBB further quoted the airline as stating that:

“Our cabin crew are trained to follow standard operating procedures to handle such incidents professionally and to ensure the safety of our guests at all times. We carry the recommended safety equipment on board at all times".

TBB added that the airline also reminded passengers to observe the Guide to Dangerous Goods for checked or carry-on baggage in accordance with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Dangerous Goods Regulations at their website.

Here's what the airline has to say on their site with regard to power banks in particular:

"Batteries, spare/loose, including lithium metal or lithium ion cells or batteries, for portable electronic devices must be carried in cabin baggage only. For lithium metal batteries the lithium metal content must not exceed 2g and for lithium ion batteries the Watt-hour rating must not exceed 100 Wh. Articles which have the primary purpose as a power source, e.g. power banks are considered as spare batteries. These batteries must be individually protected to prevent short circuits. Each person is limited to a maximum of four (4) spare lithium batteries."

Now you know.

Top image collage from Francis Ngu Hown Hua Facebook