Fire Breaks Out in British Airways Luggage Container at Milan Malpensa, Lithium Battery Suspected

A fire broke out in a luggage container destined for a British Airways Airbus A321neo at Milan Malpensa International Airport on Sunday, highlighting ongoing safety concerns surrounding lithium batteries in checked baggage. The blaze started just moments before the container was to be loaded onto flight BA585 bound for London Heathrow. Airport fire crews responded quickly to extinguish the flames, and no injuries were reported. The incident nonetheless caused a delay of nearly two and a half hours on the departure schedule.

The fire was captured on video by former BBC journalist Jon Sopel, who was waiting to board the same flight. Thick black smoke and orange flames were seen emanating from the container as ground personnel moved adjacent containers away to prevent fire spread. Sopel commended the swift actions taken to isolate the fire and expressed relief that it occurred before loading onto the aircraft.

British Airways confirmed a small number of checked bags suffered damage in the fire but emphasized no flights were impacted beyond the delay. A spokesperson said the airline is assisting affected customers and conducting an investigation into the root cause. While investigations are ongoing, preliminary suspicion points to a lithium battery or power bank improperly placed inside the checked luggage as the fire's origin.

Lithium batteries pose a serious fire hazard due to the risk of thermal runaway: a chain reaction where an overheated cell ignites neighboring cells, potentially leading to an intense, rapidly spreading fire. Although lithium batteries are banned in checked baggage, passengers sometimes fail to comply with rules, increasing risk. Fires involving lithium batteries in cargo areas can be harder to suppress, as the automated fire suppression systems on aircraft may not fully control such flames.

This incident recalls a tragic 2025 event when a power bank ignited in the overhead bin aboard an Air Busan Airbus A321, destroying the aircraft while in flight. That underscored the critical importance of strict regulation of lithium battery carriage. British Airways responded earlier this year by banning power banks from overhead lockers on flights to ensure they remain accessible for rapid intervention if overheating is detected mid-air.

At Milan Malpensa, the quick detection and containment of the fire on the ground likely averted a worse outcome by preventing the situation from reaching the aircraft. BA's spokesperson highlighted the proactive cooperation between the airline, airport authorities, and fire response teams. Despite the delay, flight BA585 departed safely later that same day after thorough safety checks.

The challenges of managing lithium battery risks continue to drive evolving airline safety policies worldwide. BA’s current measures require passengers to carry power banks only in the cabin and keep them accessible for monitoring, a practice aligning with recommendations by the International Air Transport Association. Nevertheless, incidents like the Malpensa fire underscore the ongoing importance of passenger education and compliance to prevent hazardous situations in air travel.