A domestic flight in Australia performed a go-around during its approach to Melbourne after a passenger’s electronic device caught fire inside the cabin.
On March 15th 2026, a Virgin Australia Boeing 737-800, registration VH-YFU, operating flight VA-328 from Brisbane to Melbourne, was descending toward Melbourne Airport for landing on runway 27 when an incident occurred in the passenger cabin.
During the final stages of the approach, a passenger’s electronic vaping device suddenly ignited. The crew initiated a go-around while the cabin crew worked to secure the device and ensure the situation was under control.
According to the airline, the ignition of the vape prompted the crew to make an urgency call and request emergency services to be placed on standby for the aircraft’s arrival.
After the device had been contained, the aircraft repositioned for another approach and landed safely on runway 34 approximately 15 minutes after the go-around.
Emergency vehicles followed the aircraft after landing and escorted it to the apron. Firefighters then boarded the aircraft and removed the device from the cabin.
Lithium battery devices such as vapes and electronic cigarettes can pose a fire risk if damaged or overheating, which is why cabin crews are trained to quickly contain such incidents.
After the aircraft reached the gate and the situation was resolved, the jet remained on the ground for about five hours before returning to normal service later the same day.