KLM Flight Diverted After Power Bank Fire, Ex-CEO Allegedly Involved

A KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flight bound for Curaçao was forced to turn back to Amsterdam on Thursday after a power bank caught fire in the business class cabin.

The incident occurred five-and-a-half hours into the flight over the Atlantic Ocean, according to flight tracking data. Passengers on board identified the owner of the device as Camiel Eurlings, the former President and CEO of KLM, who led the airline from 2013 to 2014.

One passenger told Dutch publication RTL News that a "bang was heard," followed by "immediate fire; large flames were coming out above the seat." The passenger added that the cabin crew responded quickly to extinguish the fire and manage the situation.

KLM confirmed the incident in a statement, stating, "The crew followed the applicable procedures and extinguished the fire. Due to the situation, the decision was made to return the flight to Amsterdam." The airline rebooked affected passengers on a flight that departed the following morning.

Eurlings reportedly sustained minor injuries and was "extremely shocked" and felt "terrible about the situation and all the inconvenience for everyone," according to the passenger who spoke with him. The passenger also described it as "incredibly stupid" for the former CEO to use the power bank during the flight, given his familiarity with airline regulations.

KLM's policy permits passengers to carry electronic devices with lithium batteries of 100 watts or less, but prohibits their use or charging during flight. The airline's website explicitly states, "always keep yours with you. It’s not allowed to put it in the overhead bin, and using or charging it on board is also not allowed."

Lithium batteries, commonly found in power banks, pose a fire risk on aircraft due to their potential to overheat, leading to heavy smoke and fire, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

KLM declined to confirm Eurlings' identity, citing privacy reasons. Eurlings previously held executive positions within the Dutch government and later at Air France-KLM before leading KLM. He currently works as a partner at the investment company Knighthood Global Limited.