Power bank overheats on SAS flight, forces emergency landing in Trondheim

Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) domestic flight SK4416 was forced to make an emergency landing at Trondheim Airport Værnes on Sunday after a power bank overheated in the cabin, causing smoke and prompting a full emergency response.

Smoke Incident Mid-Flight

The Airbus A320neo aircraft SE-RUO, carrying 186 passengers, was en route from Oslo Airport Gardermoen to Tromsø when the crew reported smoke in the cabin shortly after noon.

According to police operations manager Øystein Sagen, four to five crew members were exposed to smoke from the burning object. They were examined by medical personnel upon landing and later discharged. No injuries among passengers have been reported, though medical assistance was offered as a precaution.

Initial reports suggested a fire in the cockpit, but authorities later clarified that the incident occurred in the passenger cabin.

Overheating Lithium Battery

Emergency services confirmed that the source of the smoke was an overheating power bank — a lithium-ion battery device commonly carried by passengers to charge electronic equipment.

“The crew was unable to bring the temperature down,” said Lars Lunde, duty manager at the 110 emergency centre for Central Norway. “They decided to land at Værnes and hand the situation over to the fire department.”

Lithium-ion batteries can pose a significant in-flight hazard if damaged or overheated, as thermal runaway can lead to intense heat, fire, and toxic smoke. Airlines globally treat such incidents as high-risk events requiring immediate containment and, where necessary, diversion.

Controlled Landing and Emergency Response

SAS confirmed that the diversion and landing were carried out in accordance with standard operating procedures.

Emergency crews met the aircraft on arrival in Trondheim. The burning object was removed from the plane, and authorities confirmed the situation was quickly brought under control.

Police have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the overheating incident.

No Serious Injuries Reported

Despite the dramatic nature of the event, officials stressed that the crew handled the situation professionally and in line with established safety protocols.

From a safety management perspective, the outcome underscores the effectiveness of cabin crew training in lithium battery response procedures — a growing area of operational focus across the aviation industry.

Operations at Trondheim Airport were not reported to be significantly disrupted following the landing.