Tokyo, Japan: A British Airways flight preparing to depart Tokyo Haneda Airport for London Heathrow was forced to return to its parking stand on Thursday, June 18, after a passenger’s smartphone caught fire while the aircraft was taxiing for takeoff.
According to Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), smoke was reported from the cabin at approximately 1:10 p.m. local time. The aircraft was operating a scheduled British Airways service from Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) to London Heathrow Airport (LHR).
Japanese transport officials said the smartphone is believed to have belonged to a passenger. Cabin crew responded immediately and extinguished the fire using onboard firefighting equipment before airport emergency personnel became involved.
The aircraft returned to its stand where firefighters and airline personnel carried out safety inspections. No injuries were reported among the 211 passengers and crew members on board.
Authorities said the incident occurred while the aircraft was taxiing for departure and had not yet taken off. Following inspections and confirmation that the situation was under control, the flight later departed after a delay of approximately one hour.
The event marks the second British Airways lithium-battery-related cabin fire incident reported within days. On June 15, British Airways Flight BA271 from London Heathrow to Las Vegas experienced a cellphone fire while crossing the Atlantic. Air traffic control recordings captured the crew reporting that the device had “scorched the inside of the cabin,” although the fire was quickly contained. The Boeing 787-9 landed safely at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas and no injuries were reported.
Airlines and regulators have increasingly strengthened guidance on the carriage and handling of lithium battery-powered devices following a growing number of onboard battery-related incidents in recent years.
Japanese authorities have not released additional details regarding the smartphone involved, including its manufacturer or model, and no investigation findings have yet been announced.
