Amsterdam, Netherlands: A KLM Boeing 777-300ER operating flight KL735 from Amsterdam to Curaçao returned to Schiphol Airport on 17 September 2026 after a power bank caught fire in the Business Class cabin over the Atlantic Ocean. The cabin crew extinguished the fire and the captain decided to return to Amsterdam as a precaution. KLM said the crew followed applicable procedures, while reports differed over whether anyone was injured.
Flight-tracking data shows the aircraft, a Boeing 777-300ER registered PH-BVP, departed Amsterdam Schiphol at about 13:21 local time, nearly two hours after its scheduled 11:25 departure. The aircraft was already over the Atlantic when the incident occurred and landed back at Schiphol at around 20:40, after about five-and-a-half hours in the air.
The power bank exploded with a loud bang while it was being charged, causing a fire in the Business Class cabin. The incident reportedly left one of the aircraft’s windows blackened by smoke. Other reports described scorching and burn damage around the seat, window blind and cabin sidewall.
KLM said, “The crew followed the applicable procedures and extinguished the fire. Due to the situation, it was decided that the flight would return to Amsterdam. Passengers have been rebooked on a flight that departed this morning.”
Dutch broadcaster RTL Nieuws reported that the power bank belonged to Camiel Eurlings, the former president and CEO of KLM. Multiple passengers and sources with knowledge of the incident reportedly confirmed his involvement. One passenger who was seated near Eurlings said she saw the incident and later spoke to him. Another passenger told RTL that the cabin crew confirmed Eurlings was the passenger involved when he asked them.
However, KLM has not officially confirmed that Eurlings owned the power bank. The airline said it would not identify passengers involved in specific incidents for privacy reasons.
The power bank was being charged when the incident occurred, based on the account of a passenger who witnessed it.
One passenger said there was “suddenly a loud bang”, followed immediately by flames above the seat. The passenger said the cabin crew reacted quickly, extinguished the fire and subsequently spoke with passengers to reassure them. The incident left all 322 passengers on the flight in Amsterdam overnight. KLM arranged hotel accommodation and rebooked the passengers onto another flight to Curaçao the following morning.
The replacement operation used another aircraft for the Curaçao service, while the Boeing 777-300ER involved in the incident remained in Amsterdam following its return. Flight-tracking data identifies PH-BVP as the aircraft that operated the affected KL735 service and shows the flight as diverted back to Amsterdam.
KLM allows passengers to carry power banks subject to specific restrictions. The airline currently allows up to two power banks per passenger, with spare batteries treated as lithium-battery items. KLM says power banks must remain with the passenger and cannot be placed in an overhead compartment. More importantly, its rules state: “using or charging it on board is also not allowed.”
KLM also says batteries up to 100 Wh can generally be carried without additional permission, while batteries between 100 Wh and 160 Wh require permission and those above 160 Wh are not permitted. Damaged, defective or recalled batteries are also prohibited.
KLM’s response to the incident therefore remains focused on the crew’s handling of the fire and the subsequent return to Amsterdam, while the airline’s investigation is expected to establish precisely how the power bank overheated and whether it was being charged when it caught fire.
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