HK Express passenger injured after power bank overheats on flight to Jeju

A traveller was injured after a power bank overheated and emitted smoke aboard a HK Express flight from Hong Kong to South Korea on Sunday, prompting crew members to deploy emergency safety measures before the aircraft landed safely.

The incident occurred on flight UO676 to Jeju, which was carrying 236 passengers and seven crew.

The budget airline, a subsidiary of Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways, said the power bank was stored in a bag under a passenger’s seat and began overheating as the aircraft approached Jeju International Airport.

Crew members immediately followed standard safety protocols, placing the device in a heat-resistant fire containment bag and submerging it in water to bring the situation under control, it said.

A woman in her fifties suffered a burn to her left thumb while removing the device from her bag.

South Korean media reported that the injured passenger was a Hong Kong citizen and that the power bank was a locally-made product.

The Korean media added that the woman declined ambulance transport to the hospital, stating she would seek medical treatment independently.

The airline said the flight landed safely in Jeju at around 6am local time as scheduled, adding that the injured passenger was examined by paramedics after disembarking and received further treatment on site. No other injuries were reported.

“The safety of our passengers and crew remains our utmost priority. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused and thank our passengers for their patience and understanding,” the airline said.

According to HK Express regulations on spare batteries, passengers are strictly prohibited from using in-seat power or power banks to charge electronic devices during the flight.

Power banks are also banned from overhead storage bins. All batteries must be kept in cabin baggage stowed under the seat in front or in designated storage areas, such as seatback pockets.