A routine transatlantic journey from Amsterdam to Curaçao took an unexpected turn when a power bank caught fire inside the Business Class cabin, forcing KLM flight KL735 to abandon its journey and return to the Netherlands. The incident happened several hours into the flight, with cabin crew rushing to control the flames while passengers watched the situation unfold.
The incident became even more notable after Dutch broadcaster RTL Nieuws reported that the power bank belonged to former KLM president and chief executive Camiel Eurlings. According to RTL’s sources, Eurlings was charging the device when it caught fire. KLM has confirmed the power bank fire and the aircraft’s return to Amsterdam, but it has not independently confirmed the identity of the passenger involved, citing privacy concerns.
KLM flight KL735 was already crossing the Atlantic when the fire began
The incident occurred on Thursday, September 17, aboard KLM flight KL735, which was travelling from Amsterdam Schiphol to Curaçao.
The aircraft had already been in the air for several hours when the power bank suddenly caught fire in the Business Class section.
Passengers nearby described a startling moment in which the incident appeared to begin without much warning. One passenger who witnessed what happened told RTL Nieuws there was “ineens een knal,” meaning “suddenly a loud bang,” before flames rose above the seat.
The same passenger said the cabin crew reacted quickly. Staff extinguished the fire and then spoke with passengers individually to reassure them after the frightening incident.
Although the immediate flames were brought under control, the situation did not simply end there.
With the aircraft already travelling across the Atlantic, the captain decided to turn the plane around as a precaution rather than continue toward Curaçao.
The aircraft subsequently returned to Amsterdam Schiphol.
More In-Flight Incidents: Onboard emergencies forcing an unexpected return aren’t unique to this KLM flight. For more, read our story on Delta Flight 1208 turning back minutes after takeoff after a reported pilot incapacitation sparked an emergency return to Minneapolis.
Passenger describes flames shooting above the Business Class seat
The passenger account provided to RTL Nieuws gives a more detailed picture of how suddenly the fire developed.
The witness said:
“There was suddenly a loud bang. Immediately after, there was a fire; large flames shot up from above the seat.”
Despite the dramatic start, the passenger praised the cabin crew’s response.
According to the account, crew members quickly dealt with the fire and then reassured passengers individually. The atmosphere among travellers reportedly remained under control after the crew intervened.
The incident nevertheless left visible damage inside the cabin.
RTL Nieuws reported that photographs from the flight showed damage around the affected Business Class seat and window area. The broadcaster noted that it could not independently establish the authenticity of the passenger photograph, although it presented the image to KLM.
That distinction remains important because the photograph was not independently authenticated by RTL, even though KLM was shown the image.
RTL Nieuws reports the power bank belonged to former KLM CEO Camiel Eurlings
The incident took on another dimension when RTL Nieuws reported that the power bank was linked to Camiel Eurlings, a former KLM president and chief executive.
RTL reported that multiple sources aboard the aircraft and people familiar with the incident identified Eurlings as the owner of the power bank.
Eurlings previously served as a Dutch politician and as minister of Transport, Public Works and Water Management. He later became part of the leadership of Air France-KLM.
However, the reported identification has not been independently confirmed by KLM.
The airline declined to identify the passenger involved, citing privacy concerns. A KLM spokesperson told RTL Nieuws:
“We do research into the incident.”
KLM also said it was investigating whether the power bank had been charging when the fire occurred.
That means the reported connection to Eurlings comes from RTL Nieuws and its sources rather than from an official identification by KLM.
RTL Nieuws also reported that Eurlings suffered minor injuries during the incident. KLM confirmed that one person was slightly injured, but the airline did not say whether that person was Eurlings.
More Airline Controversies: Passenger-related incidents drawing scrutiny aren’t limited to onboard fires. Our story on why a Southwest flight attendant was arrested by ICE at Nashville Airport and what officials have confirmed so far covers another unfolding airline story worth following.
What is confirmed and what remains attributed to reporting?
| Detail | Information provided in reporting |
| Flight | KLM KL735 |
| Date | Thursday, September 17, 2026 |
| Route | Amsterdam Schiphol to Curaçao |
| Incident | Power bank caught fire in Business Class |
| Passenger identity | RTL Nieuws reported it was former KLM CEO Camiel Eurlings |
| KLM confirmation | KLM confirmed the power bank fire but did not identify the passenger |
| Investigation | KLM is investigating the incident and whether the power bank was charging |
| Injury | KLM confirmed one person was slightly injured |
| Reported injury to Eurlings | RTL Nieuws reported that Eurlings suffered minor injuries |
| Aircraft response | Crew extinguished the fire and the aircraft returned to Amsterdam |
| Passengers | 322 passengers were reportedly provided hotel accommodation |
| Continued journey | Passengers were placed on another aircraft the following morning |
KLM rules prohibit using or charging power banks during a flight
The reported circumstances have attracted particular attention because KLM’s rules specifically address how passengers can carry and use power banks.
KLM currently allows passengers to carry up to two power banks, provided the devices meet the airline’s battery restrictions.
The power banks must remain with the passenger and cannot be placed inside an overhead baggage compartment.
There is another important restriction, however: KLM states that power banks cannot be used or charged onboard.
The airline’s current guidance says passengers should keep power banks with them and that:
“using or charging it on board is also not allowed.”
KLM also treats power banks as spare batteries. They must be carried in hand baggage rather than checked luggage, and lithium batteries must meet the airline’s specified capacity limits.
That makes the reported detail that the device was being charged particularly relevant to the investigation.
RTL Nieuws’ passenger source said the power bank was being charged when it caught fire. At the same time, KLM has not publicly confirmed that sequence and has said it is investigating whether the device was charging when the fire started.
Why the aircraft turned around instead of continuing to Curaçao
The cabin crew managed to extinguish the fire, but the aircraft did not continue across the Atlantic.
The captain decided to return to Amsterdam Schiphol as a precaution.
For the passengers aboard KL735, that meant an already lengthy transatlantic journey became a major travel disruption. The aircraft turned around after spending several hours in the air, eventually landing back at Schiphol.
Once the passengers were back in Amsterdam, arrangements were made for them to continue their journey.
RTL Nieuws reported that all 322 passengers were provided with hotel accommodation at KLM’s expense. They were then placed on another aircraft the following morning.
Other reporting also confirmed that passengers were rebooked after the aircraft returned to Schiphol.
For travellers who had expected to arrive in Curaçao, the unexpected overnight stop in Amsterdam significantly changed the journey.
KLM launches an investigation into the power bank fire
KLM has confirmed the underlying aviation safety incident: a power bank caught fire onboard a flight travelling to Curaçao, cabin crew extinguished the fire and the aircraft returned to Amsterdam.
The airline has also opened an investigation.
However, KLM has not confirmed the identity of the passenger associated with the device. It has also not established publicly whether the power bank was being charged when it ignited.
That distinction matters throughout the reporting.
The claim that the device belonged to Camiel Eurlings comes from RTL Nieuws, its sources and people familiar with the incident. It is not an identification publicly confirmed by KLM.
Likewise, RTL Nieuws reported that Eurlings suffered minor injuries, while KLM has only confirmed that one person was slightly injured without identifying that passenger.
The investigation therefore remains important to establishing the circumstances surrounding the fire.
Power bank fires remain an aviation safety concern
The incident also highlights why airlines maintain specific rules for portable chargers and spare lithium batteries.
Lithium-ion batteries can experience thermal runaway, a process in which a battery rapidly overheats and can ignite.
That risk is one reason airlines impose restrictions on how spare batteries and power banks can be carried and handled inside aircraft.
KLM’s current rules require passengers to keep power banks accessible and prohibit passengers from using or charging them during the flight. The airline also advises travellers not to bring damaged, defective or recalled lithium batteries onboard.
The latest incident is not the first time a KLM aircraft has faced a power bank-related problem.
Dutch broadcaster NOS reported that about a year earlier, another KLM aircraft experienced smoke from an overheating power bank while travelling between São Paulo and Amsterdam.
That device was contained onboard, and the aircraft also returned to Amsterdam.
The earlier incident drew attention to the risks associated with lithium batteries inside aircraft cabins. The latest case has received additional attention because of the reported involvement of a former KLM chief executive.
Passengers react to the reported involvement of a former KLM boss
The reported connection to Eurlings has added an unusual element to an already serious onboard incident.
According to RTL Nieuws, passengers said Eurlings had been charging the power bank when it caught fire, and RTL reported that he suffered minor injuries.
Passenger reactions quoted in the supplied reporting questioned the circumstances surrounding the incident.
One passenger said:
“If you are just a passenger, such a mistake can happen. But if you have enforced the company’s house rules, then this is very strange.”
Another passenger said Eurlings was “very upset” about the disruption and described the decision as “stupid.”
Those statements are passenger reactions, not official findings establishing responsibility.
KLM’s investigation is expected to address the circumstances of the fire, including whether the power bank was charging at the time it ignited.
The airline has not publicly attributed responsibility to Eurlings.
Passengers eventually continued their journey to Curaçao
The original KL735 flight did not reach Curaçao.
After the aircraft returned to Amsterdam, passengers spent the night there before being rebooked onto another flight. RTL Nieuws reported that KLM provided hotel accommodation for the affected travellers, with the group continuing their journey the following morning.
For the 322 passengers, what had started as a routine flight from Amsterdam Schiphol to Curaçao became an unexpected overnight disruption after a portable battery caught fire several hours into the journey.
For KLM, the incident has once again highlighted the importance of its restrictions concerning power banks. Passengers may carry up to two compliant power banks onboard under the airline’s rules, but they are not permitted to use or recharge them during the flight.
For Eurlings, the reported connection has made the incident particularly notable because of his previous position at the airline. Yet the distinction between reported information and confirmed information remains important: RTL Nieuws identified him through its sources, while KLM has not officially confirmed the passenger’s identity.
More Airline Technology News: Onboard equipment and connectivity are shaping air travel in more ways than one this year. Read our story on Frontier Airlines’ upcoming Starlink Wi-Fi rollout and how it could change budget flying for a very different kind of in-flight upgrade.
Conclusion
KLM flight KL735 was forced to return to Amsterdam after a power bank caught fire in the Business Class cabin while the aircraft was travelling from Amsterdam Schiphol to Curaçao on September 17.
Cabin crew extinguished the flames, but the captain turned the aircraft around as a precaution. One person was confirmed by KLM to have been slightly injured, while RTL Nieuws reported that former KLM CEO Camiel Eurlings was linked to the power bank and suffered minor injuries.
KLM has confirmed the fire and launched an investigation, but it has not independently confirmed the identity of the passenger or whether the power bank was charging when it caught fire. RTL Nieuws’ reporting remains the basis for the reported identification of Eurlings.
The 322 passengers were provided with hotel accommodation at KLM’s expense and continued their journey on another aircraft the following morning. The incident has also brought renewed attention to KLM’s rules, which allow passengers to carry compliant power banks but prohibit using or charging them onboard.
Source and research disclaimer
This article has been prepared from thorough research of the sources provided with the original verified material, including KLM’s published baggage and safety rules, RTL Nieuws, NOS, DutchNews.nl and NL Times. It reflects the information, reporting and statements contained in those sources and does not imply independent verification beyond the material provided. In particular, KLM has not publicly confirmed the identity of the passenger associated with the power bank, and the airline is investigating the circumstances of the incident.
Sources
- KLM: Restricted and prohibited items in hand baggage
- KLM: Restricted and prohibited items in checked baggage
- RTL Nieuws: Power bank that caught fire belonged to former KLM CEO Camiel Eurlings
- NOS: KLM aircraft returns to Schiphol after power bank catches fire
- DutchNews.nl: Power bank that ignited on KLM flight belonged to former CEO
- NL Times: Power bank that caught fire on KLM flight belonged to airline’s ex-CEO
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Mst Haspia Akter on Pexels
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