Lithium battery ignition in SL Airlines flight from Kochi?

A major incident was averted on SriLankan Airlines' flight from Kochi to Colombo carrying 202 passengers after suspected ignition of a lithium battery pack or mobile phones in a hand baggage, the carrier said today.

The incident was reported on Sunday shortly after the meal service on the 70-minute flight was concluded.

"Alert cabin crew members aboard SriLankan Airlines' flight UL 166 managed to avert a major incident that is believed to have been caused by the ignition of a lithium battery pack or mobile phones in a passenger's hand luggage," the carrier said in a statement.

The airline said none of the 202 passengers or any of the crew suffered any injuries and the A330-200 aircraft landed safely at Colombo's Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA).

Suspecting a lithium fire, they adopted the lithium fire extinguishing procedure by immersing the bag in a container of water, the statement said.

"The situation was successfully contained and the bag ceased to emit smoke. Upon investigation, the crew found a lithium battery pack and two mobile phones in the bag," The airline as well as relevant authorities in Sri Lanka have launched an investigation into the incident.

(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)