Evacuation at Milan Malpensa

All 146 passengers were evacuated from an easyJet Airbus A320 at Milan Malpensa Airport on September 10 after a power bank caught fire in an overhead locker. The aircraft, operating flight U23905 from Terminal 2 to Prague, was taxiing when cabin crew spotted smoke filling the cabin, according to reports from the Bristol Post and the South Wales Echo.

Captain abandoned the take-off and deployed the inflatable emergency chutes, allowing passengers to escape down the slides. Two passengers sustained slight bruises during the evacuation. The aircraft came to a halt beside the airport fire station.

Response and investigation

Airport operator SEA suspended take-offs and landings while crews dealt with the situation. Passengers on other taxiing aircraft were also taken off as a precaution. Ambulances and fire crews responded at the scene.

Italy's air accident agency ANSV is investigating, with early findings pointing to a lithium power bank overheating in a trolley bag in an overhead locker, as reported by the South Wales Echo.

Power bank rules

The incident highlights airline rules on portable chargers. Most airlines ban power banks from the hold, and easyJet permits two in the cabin, but they cannot be used to charge devices in flight. EasyJet's website states that "power banks are prohibited from use on easyJet aircraft and must not be used to charge other devices," adding that they must be carried in carry-on baggage only and recommending they be kept where they can be monitored, such as on one's person.

The airline has not released a public statement about the incident. The event follows an earlier easyJet flight that diverted after a passenger left a charging bank in a suitcase, according to the South Wales Echo.