REPORT: Man Catches Fire In Airport Lounge, Forces Mass Evacuation

November 9, 2025

From the Daily Caller: A powerbank explosion torched a passenger and forced 150 people to flee Melbourne Airport’s Qantas business lounge Thursday when the device ignited in the man’s pocket.

The portable charger ignited around 11 a.m., setting the man’s jacket on fire as travelers heard screams erupt across the lounge. Battery acid sprayed across the area as the device exploded, witnesses said, according to local Australian outlet The Sydney Morning Herald.

Staff rushed the burning passenger into a shower while evacuating the entire lounge. The man, in his 50s, suffered burns to his leg and fingers.

“His jacket caught on fire. They evacuated us because the smoke and smell was so strong, but I really just hope the guy is okay,” one traveler posted on social media alongside a photo of the destroyed device.

The man was reportedly taken to the hospital for treatment, where he was said to be in stable condition.

The alarming incident was witnessed by film producer Leanne Tonkes, who posted an account on Instagram:

“When you’ve just witnessed a mobile phone battery catch fire in the @qantas lounge in Melbourne. Hoping the man who caught fire holding it is ok. Quick thinking from the man who jumped in to help and the staff who got him in the shower and everyone else out of the lounge.”