Source: Gina Kalsi | www.dailymail.co.uk

This is the terrifying moment a power bank exploded on an AirAsia flight mid-air, sending passengers into panic. The plane was flying from Bangkok to Nakhon Si Thammarat in the south of the country when flames and smoke were seen 30 minutes in. Shocked cabin crew rushed to the middle row of the Airbus A320 to extinguish the flames, as nervous customers watched on. Those onboard rushed out of their seats and flocked to the other side of the aircraft, with some clutching their children.

As fumes filled the cabin, passengers frantically moved their belongings away from the flames. Others rushed to go and get bottled water in an attempt to put out the fire. Flight attendants grabbed fire extinguishers and eliminated the fire.

Sayan Srimai, who recorded the video, said: ‘The whole plane was in a state of chaos.

‘We had been sitting for about 30 minutes when suddenly there was a fire burning and smoke rising in the middle of the plane, in row 15.

‘Passengers were extremely shocked. The crew were excellent and it only took them two minutes to put out the fire.’

The eruption left one of the leather seats burnt and charred and the plane landed on time. Nobody was injured in the incident. Technicians boarded the vehicle to check the damage and found black burn marks on the seat. They told passengers that a power bank had been stored in the seat pouch but it exploded during the flight.

Airlines only allow power banks to be packed in carry-on luggage, not in checked bags due to the risk of lithium-ion batteries overheating and causing fires in the cargo hold.

Passenger Sayan said: ‘The passenger who owned the power bank was with a large group, about seven or eight people. When it happened, he stood up very quickly and he was not hurt.’