Vape starts fire on Brisbane to Melbourne flight causing emergency landing
Fire started in cabin but was contained says Virgin Australia.
A Virgin Australia aircraft has had to make an emergency landing after a vape caught fire in the cabin.
A spokesperson for Virgin Australia told Explore the crew responded swiftly in containing the vape on the flight, VA 328, on March 15.
"The safety of our guests and crew is our highest priority," the spokesperson said.
The flight landed in Melbourne safely from Brisbane but made an PAN call, an emergency call to the airport, activating emergency services.
"As a precaution and in accordance with standard procedures, emergency services were placed on standby," a Melbourne airport spokesperson said.
"The Boeing 737 aircraft landed safely and taxied to the gate where passengers were able to disembark normally."
From December 2025, passengers were no longer able to charge and use portable powerbanks on board Qantas, QantasLink, Jetsar and Virgin Australia flights.
The news came after a months-long investigation by Virgin Australia into the cause of a fire that broke out in an overhead luggage compartment during a flight from Sydney to Hobart in July.
Many disposable vapes contain the same type of rechargeable lithium battery that is used in power banks.
Carla Mascarenhas is a journalist with Explore Travel and The Senior. She specialises in deep issues affecting Gen X and beyond, and the latest in travel news. Contact her on carla.mascarenhas@austcommunitymedia.com.au
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