A Virgin Australia Boeing 737-800, registration VH-YFY performing flight VA-1528 from Sydney,NS to Hobart,TA (Australia), had been enroute at FL380 and was initiating the descent towards Hobart when smoke emanated from an overhead locker in the cabin. Cabin crew doused the fire. The flight crew declared emergency and continued the approach to Hobart for a safe landing on runway 30 about 20 minutes later.
The airline reported the aircraft landed safely in Hobart, firefighters boarded the aircraft and removed a bag from the overhead locker.
Passengers reported there was a funny smell at first, then about 10 minutes prior to landing smoke became visible. When cabin crew opened the overhead locker, a small ball of fire burst out. Cabin crew doused the fire with water after realizing that there was some sort of charging device, possibly Lithium Ion battery, had overheated in someone's bag.
A replacement Boeing 737-800 registration VH-YFV performed the return flight with a delay of about 5 hours.
The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Hobart about 10 hours after landing.
The airline reported the aircraft landed safely in Hobart, firefighters boarded the aircraft and removed a bag from the overhead locker.
Passengers reported there was a funny smell at first, then about 10 minutes prior to landing smoke became visible. When cabin crew opened the overhead locker, a small ball of fire burst out. Cabin crew doused the fire with water after realizing that there was some sort of charging device, possibly Lithium Ion battery, had overheated in someone's bag.
A replacement Boeing 737-800 registration VH-YFV performed the return flight with a delay of about 5 hours.
The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Hobart about 10 hours after landing.
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