- A KLM flight to Curaçao made an emergency return to Schiphol after a passenger’s power bank caught fire over the Atlantic.
- The crew extinguished the flames, and Flight KL735 landed back in Amsterdam at about 20:43 after roughly 5.5 hours airborne.
- KLM is investigating the incident and may add new measures, while passengers were rebooked and given hotel and meal assistance.
A KLM flight from Amsterdam to Curaçao returned to Schiphol on Thursday, September 17, 2026, after a passenger's power bank caught fire over the Atlantic Ocean. The crew put out the flames, and the Boeing 777 landed back in Amsterdam at about 20:43, after roughly 5.5 hours in the air.
The aircraft had been operating Flight KL735. It spent roughly 11 hours airborne in total before returning to the airport.
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Reports linked the device to former airline chief executive Camiel Eurlings. The airline has not publicly confirmed the passenger's identity, citing privacy rules.
Passengers then faced rebooking, hotel vouchers and delays in obtaining food. Some could not take the next available flight.
The crew contained the fire before the captain turned back
The portable battery ignited in the cabin while the aircraft crossed the Atlantic. Passengers said the incident occurred in business class, where they saw a blackened window afterward.
The crew extinguished the fire. The captain then chose to return to Schiphol for safety reasons.
An airline spokesperson said one man suffered light burns, saying, “He has sustained burns.” Another airline account said no one was hurt. Passengers described the event as sudden and alarming, but said the cabin remained calm after the crew explained what had happened.
The airline said the crew handled the emergency according to the applicable regulations. It also said passengers would be rebooked onto later flights.
The airline permits batteries in bags but bans their use in the cabin
The carrier allows passengers to bring up to two power banks, but only under specific conditions:
| Requirement | Rule |
|---|---|
| Where to carry them | in hand luggage |
| During the flight | Keep them visible |
| Use on board | Do not use or charge them |
Passengers said cabin announcements had repeated the charging restriction during the flight. One complaint said the passenger appeared to disregard those warnings, followed by “vlammen tot aan plafond.”
The Dutch-language complaint also criticized the wait after the aircraft returned. It said passengers had to wait for hours for a hotel voucher or something to eat, and questioned why the former director had not apologized.
Passengers were rebooked after the aircraft returned to Amsterdam
The return disrupted travel plans across a popular route. An airline spokesperson said, “It is a very popular destination,” explaining why not every passenger could take the next flight.
Passengers who could not be placed on the next service were scheduled for later departures. The airline arranged rebooking, while travelers waited for accommodation and meal assistance after landing.
Groningen singer Izaline Calister was among those traveling. She had been due to perform in Curaçao, but said the disruption did not jeopardize her show.
The passenger identified in Dutch reports as Eurlings served as the airline's chief executive from 1 July 2013 to 15 October 2014. Pieter Elbers succeeded him. Eurlings was also a former Dutch minister.
The airline is reviewing whether further measures are needed
The reports identifying Eurlings described him as the passenger whose device ignited, but the airline has not named him publicly. Its review will determine whether additional measures follow.
An airline spokesperson said:
“We are investigating the incident and depending on the outcome of the investigation we will determine whether extra measures are needed.”
One account described the fire as the first incident of its kind to disrupt one of the carrier's flights. A previous event involving an overheating battery produced smoke on another flight, but did not cause the same reported disruption.
The incident adds a fire-related safety event to the carrier's internal review while the passenger battery restrictions remain in place: portable batteries must stay visible in hand luggage and cannot be used or charged during the flight.
