• Smoke seen rising from a vape aboard an Australian flight
• Airplane landed safely

An Australian flight from Brisbane to Melbourne made a safe landing after smoke was seen coming from a vape device onboard.

The incident occurred shortly before the plane touched down around 4 p.m. Sunday, prompting the crew to act quickly and alert Melbourne airport firefighters.

Authorities said a passenger noticed smoke rising from the device and informed the crew, who immediately contained it. The pilots declared a “PAN” alert, signaling a non-life-threatening emergency requiring priority landing. Fire crews escorted the aircraft to the gate as a precaution and removed the device.

A spokesperson for the airline emphasized that passenger and crew safety is the top priority, praising the crew’s swift response. Vape devices contain small lithium batteries, which can overheat or catch fire if damaged, a phenomenon known as “thermal runaway.”

Airline policy mandates that vapes and e-cigarettes be carried only in hand luggage, following previous incidents such as a power bank fire on a Sydney-to-Hobart flight that led to stricter storage rules.

Dr. Adam Best, a lithium battery expert at CSIRO, explained that vape batteries are more prone to failure than those in power banks, as most are disposable and lack built-in safety features. Any defect, whether from prior damage or manufacturing, can cause rapid overheating, fire, release of toxic gases, or even explosion.