Former KLM chief’s power bank causes mid-air fire

A KLM flight bound for Curaçao was forced to return to Schiphol Airport after a power bank exploded and caught fire in the cabin.

Flight KL735 was five and a half hours into the trip to Willemstad when the device began emitting smoke. Crew members extinguished the fire, but a window screen was shattered and one person sustained minor injuries.

Incident in first class

The electronic device reportedly belonged to former KLM chief executive Camiel Eurlings, who was travelling in first class. Witnesses reported he was asleep when the power bank exploded with a loud bang.

KLM declined to confirm the identity of the owner, citing passenger privacy rules. Eurlings was reportedly charging the device during the flight, which breaches airline safety regulations.

Stricter battery regulations

This marks the second time an onboard power bank has disrupted a KLM service. In August 2025, a flight to São Paulo returned to Amsterdam after a device caught fire inside an overhead bin.

Airlines enforce strict rules regarding power banks to minimise fire risks in the air. KLM permits passengers to bring up to two devices of 100 Wh or less, but explicitly bans charging them on board or storing them in overhead lockers.

Source: NU.nl