On Tuesday, May 8th 2018, a mobile phone overheated on KLM Flight 809 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur. It was night, with most passengers snoozing at 39,000 feet above the Bay of Bengal. The captain and crew responded to the KLM incident intelligently as the cabin filled with smoke. They extinguished the fire, and diverted to Phuket island, arguably every traveler’s dream come true.
How this KLM Incident Racked Up Thousands of Dollars
No particular blame attaches to the owner of the unfortunate phone. Because the chances are, every other passenger had a lithium battery in their smartphone, tablet, or laptop on board too.
Nonetheless, we can be grateful the KLM incident was in the cabin, not the cargo hold. By the time the plane was clear for take off, the crew was approved for duty.
Kuala Lumpur was a scant hour away by air. But the airline had to accommodate over 300 passengers and crew and feed them locally on the island. Moreover, there was a knock-on effect as passengers in Kuala Lumpur were unable to catch the plane’s continuation journey to Amsterdam. Thus, KLM had to lay on more suppers, hotels and breakfasts to placate increasingly frustrated customers.
What Airlines Are Learning from Events Like This
Adrian Young, senior aviation consultant told Simon Calder, “The increasing use of lithium-ion batteries in electronics creates a fire risk on board airplanes.
“Because such batteries are difficult to extinguish if they catch fire” after thermal runaway. However, “the carriers have no alternative to adapting to the situation,” he says.
KLM’s passenger rules include remaining alert while charging a device during a flight. And storing loose batteries in cabin luggage. “Moreover, if you have ever let your phone or tablet slip into the inner workings of a plane seat,” it continues. “Never move your seat if your device has slipped between the seat. Always call a flight attendant for assistance.”
Related
The Lithium-Ion Batteries Allowed on Airplanes
Is This the End of Lithium Battery Fires?
Preview Image: Phuket International Airport
