Former KLM CEO allegedly sparks fire onboard after ignoring power bank rule

A KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flight reportedly had to turn back over the Atlantic after a power bank exploded midflight, according to RTL News. The incident occurred on September 17 on KLM Flight 735, traveling from Amsterdam to Curaçao with 322 passengers onboard. An anonymous female passenger told RTL that former KLM CEO Camiel Eurlings was charging a power bank near her in business class. While power banks are allowed on airplanes, passengers are prohibited from using them inflight because lithium battery fires are a hazard. About 5.5 hours into the flight, the device allegedly burst into flames; witnesses described a bang followed by immediate fire with large flames. KLM said it could not confirm photo and video authenticity. The aircraft returned to Amsterdam, landing at Schiphol around 8:40 p.m., nearly 11 hours after takeoff.