You can contribute by submitting additional or updated information.
| Date: | Saturday 5 December 1998 |
| Time: | 06:40 |
| Type: |  Airbus A340-313 |
| Owner/operator: | Virgin Atlantic Airways |
| Registration: | G-VAIR |
| MSN: | 164 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1997 |
| Engine model: | CFMI CFM56-5C4 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 273 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Minor |
| Category: | Incident |
| Location: | 120 nm North of Lusaka -
 Zambia
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Passenger - Scheduled |
| Departure airport: | London Heathrow Airport (LHR/EGLL) |
| Johannesburg OR Tambo International Airport (JNB/FAOR) | |
| Investigating agency: | AAIB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
While En Route to Johannesburg a passenger notified 2 crew members that there was a fire in the cabin. The crew members noticed an illuminated area near the upper baggage compartment near row 60/61D. They crew members would grab a fire extinguisher and notify the captain. The crew noticed a small gap at the top of the overhead bin and attempted to extinguish it through said gap. The crew member was not able to break the seal. After this attempt a passenger would take the extinguisher and successfully break the seal and release the contents. This though would not successfully smother the flames so they would take another extinguisher and successfully extinguish the flames. After this smoke and extinguisher contents drifted across the floor. The aircraft would continue on to Johannesburg and land safely. An investigation would reveal it was started within a carry-on containing a Handbag and cosmetics.
Probable Cause:
The fire was started within the Carry-on due to unknown circumstances
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/542301d0ed915d1371000b61/dft_avsafety_pdf_500406.pdf
https://www.planespotters.net/airframe/airbus-a340-300-ep-mmd-mahan-air/3v8xve
History of this aircraft
Other occurrences involving this aircraft
| 27 April 2008 | G-VAIR | Virgin Atlantic Airways | 0 | Nairobi-Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) |  |
min |
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 27-Sep-2024 06:03 | Justanormalperson | Added |
| 27-Sep-2024 06:04 | ASN | Updated [Accident report, ] |
| 19-May-2025 01:20 | Justanormalperson | Updated |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2025 Flight Safety Foundation