TERRIFIED passengers were evacuated after a power bank exploded into flames on an easyJet plane.
A power bank caught fire in the overhead locker as smoke began to fill the cabin just before it was set to take off from Italy to Prague, the Czech capital.
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Cabin crew noticed smoke snaking out from the overhead locker and the captain immediately halted the aircraft towards the runway on September 10.
Pilots then declared a mayday and ordered everyone to get disembark for safety.
All 146 passengers on the taxiing Airbus A320 slid down inflated chutes onto the tarmac at the Milan Malpensa Airport in Italy.
Firefighters at the airport reached the troubled plane within minutes, followed by ambulances soon after.
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The aircraft was taken to the airport fire station soon after leaving the gate.
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Passengers on nearby taxiing aircraft were also evacuated as a precaution.
Airport operator SEA brought the airport to a stand-still where take-offs and landings were prohibited while the emergency team dealt with the fire.
But SEA confirmed the airport returned to full swing by 7:30pm.
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Two people suffered bruises jumping down the inflatable slides but no serious injuries have been reported.
Italy’s air accident agency, ANSV, has launched a safety inquiry after the incident.
Early investigations found a lithium power bank overheating in the overhead locker, which led to it catching fire.
The Civil Aviation Authority said that the average passenger takes four different lithium power devices onto a plane.
Most airlines ban power banks from being stored in overhead hold luggage.
In 2024, there were 316 incidents where lithium ion batteries in hold bags were detected by UK authorities.
This doubled in 2025 to 643 reported incidents.
EasyJet‘s website reminds passengers that “power banks are prohibited from use on easyJet aircraft and must not be used to charge other devices”.
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The low-fare airline also reminds that “power banks must be carried in carry-on baggage only and it is recommended that power banks are carried whey they can be monitored i.e. on your person.”
The Sun has contacted easyJet for comment.