On 17 October, a portable battery inside a passenger’s bag caught fire during boarding on a Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) Airbus A320neo preparing to operate the Oslo–Bergen flight. The cabin quickly filled with smoke, and around 50 people were evacuated. The fire was initially tackled with a Halon fire extinguisher, but the battery reignited after being moved outside.
Eight people exposed to toxic smoke were hospitalized. Authorities later announced that all of them were discharged within 48 hours.
The incident highlights the thermal runaway risks associated with batteries. Similar lithium battery fires have previously caused severe damage—including the total destruction of an Air Busan A321.
Despite the high effectiveness of halon-type extinguishers, they are scheduled to be fully phased out of European aircraft by the end of 2025 due to environmental concerns. In response to increasing risks, several airlines—including Turkish Airlines, AJet, Pegasus, Lufthansa, and Emirates—have tightened restrictions on portable batteries in both checked baggage and carry-on use during flights.
