Baggage Container Catches Fire Moments Before Loading Onto British Airways A321neo

A British Airways Airbus A321neo operating flight BA585 from Milan Malpensa Airport narrowly avoided a major incident when a baggage container caught fire moments before loading onto the tarmac. Video posted on X by Jon Sopel showed fire engines and emergency crews rushing to the scene as smoke rose from the rapidly growing blaze. The cause remains under investigation, but Corriere della Sera reports early speculation that lithium-ion batteries from consumer electronics inside passenger luggage may have ignited the fire. Despite the disruption, BA585 reached London Heathrow about two hours late, according to FlightAware. Ground crews evacuated nearby containers and firefighters extinguished the flames within minutes.