KLM Flight KL735 Returns After Power Bank Blast Involves Ex-CEO Camiel Eurlings
KLM Flight KL735 returned to Amsterdam after 5.5 hours following a cabin power bank fire. Former KLM CEO Camiel Eurlings, injured in the incident, was identified by passengers as the owner of the detonated device. Cabin crew extinguished and doused the device, and the aircraft turned back to Schiphol.
An international KLM flight KL735 from Amsterdam to Curaçao was forced to execute an emergency return after a lithium-ion power bank overheated and ignited in the Business Class cabin, with passenger accounts identifying former airline CEO Camiel Eurlings as the owner of the device.
Incident and Emergency Diversion
KLM Flight KL735 departed Amsterdam Airport Schiphol heading toward Willemstad, Curaçao. Roughly 2.5 to 5.5 hours into the route while cruising over the Atlantic, a loud bang echoed through the cabin as a power bank caught fire, sending flames shooting up near a seat console, reports RTL Nieuws. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Boeing 737-800 Experiences Hydraulic Failure, Skids off Runway After Emergency Landing in Norway (Watch Video).
KLM Flight KL735 Returns After Power Bank Blast
A KLM flight from Amsterdam to Curaçao was forced to turn around over the Atlantic on Thursday after a power bank fire.
The power bank was being used by KLM´s former CEO and President, Mr. Camiel Eurlings, who was injured in the incident.
"According to a passenger who was… pic.twitter.com/FifYHoInH0
— Francisco Cunha - ✈️ Aviation et al (@OnDisasters) September 18, 2026
Cabin crew extinguished and doused the device, and the aircraft turned back to Schiphol. KLM confirmed that one person sustained minor injuries, though the airline declined to formally name the individual due to privacy protocols. It is reported that Eurlings sustained minor injuries as a result of the incident. All 322 passengers were provided hotel accommodations and rescheduled on a subsequent flight.
Ex-CEO Involvement and Witness Reactions
Multiple passengers confirmed to Dutch outlets that the device belonged to Camiel Eurlings, who served as KLM’s president and CEO from 2011 to 2014. Witnesses stated that Eurlings was asleep when the device detonated and was left terribly shaken and apologetic over the disruption. One nearby passenger described the situation as "incredibly stupid", noting the irony of a former airline chief executive running afoul of carrier safety standards regarding portable power devices. IndiGo Flight: Power Bank Catches Fire on Flight 6E 108 at Mohali Airport in Punjab; Passengers Evacuated Safely (Watch Video).
Regulatory Context on Onboard Power Banks
KLM - like a growing number of international carriers - prohibits passengers from charging power banks via in-seat power outlets and bans storing them in overhead bins due to thermal runaway risks. Lithium-ion power banks store high energy density across multiple cells; a cell failure can trigger cascading thermal events. Airlines generally cap personal battery capacity at 100 Wh and restrict active usage or charging during critical flight phases or unattended sleep.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 18, 2026 10:52 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
