Prosecutors open criminal investigation into KLM power bank fire

KLM has filed a police report against a passenger over "an incident involving a power bank on a flight in September". The airline confirmed that the flight was the one from Amsterdam to Curaçao on 17 September. A Boeing 777 turned back to Schiphol after several hours in the air when a power bank caught fire on board. The crew put out the fire.

The Openbaar Ministerie, the Public Prosecution Service, confirmed it has received the report and is conducting a criminal investigation into an incident with a power bank during a flight. A spokesperson said the investigation will show whether anyone is prosecuted.

KLM declined to say who the report is against, citing passenger privacy. In a statement it said the fire put safety at risk. "It is KLM's usual practice to report serious breaches of the safety rules by passengers that put the safety of a flight, its passengers and its crew at risk," the airline said. "Safety always comes first."

Power banks are allowed on board KLM flights, but passengers may not use or charge them during the flight.