Source: Simon Hradecky | www.avherald.com

A TAP Portugal Airbus A320-200, registration CS-TNH performing flight TP-574 from Lisbon (Portugal) to Frankfurt/Main (Germany) with 171 passengers and 6 crew, was on final ILS approach to Frankfurt’s runway 07L about 6nm before touchdown when a passenger spotted smoke emanating from her carry on luggage, identified a battery charger as source of the smoke and attemtped to remove the charger from the luggage, due to the intense heat she could not take the charger out and instead received burns to her hand. The purser also noticed the smoke and discharged a Halon fire extinguisher, then cooled the battery in water and secured the device and battery in a secure container in the aft lavatory. After landing the purser informed the flight crew, who in turn notified tower and requested medical services to attend to the aircraft. Fire services did not find any smoke, heat or fire anymore.

Germany’s BFU reported the aircraft did not sustained any damage, the passenger received minor injuries to her hand, which were treated by a doctor at the airport. Fire services collected the device and battery and handed them to the BFU. The occurrence was rated a serious incident, an investigation was opened.

The BFU reported the chargeable battery had a capacity of 2200mAh at 3.7V, a thermal runaway occured inside the battery.