KLM flight KL735, traveling from Amsterdam to Curacao, returned to Schiphol Airport after a power bank caught fire in the business class cabin. The incident occurred more than five and a half hours into the flight while the aircraft was over the Atlantic Ocean.
The crew extinguished the fire quickly, preventing further damage to the cabin. The flight landed safely in Amsterdam, where the airline provided hotel accommodations for all 322 passengers before arranging a replacement flight for the following day.
Reports indicate the power bank belonged to Camiel Eurlings, the former CEO of KLM. Witnesses stated the device was being charged at the time of the fire, which violates KLM safety regulations prohibiting the use or charging of power banks during flights.
The incident has drawn attention to aviation safety protocols regarding lithium-ion batteries. Airlines and international regulators continue to enforce strict rules, requiring power banks to be carried in hand luggage and forbidding their use for charging devices while in the air.
