On 21 November, a Warsaw‑to‑Istanbul flight returned to Okęcie Airport for an emergency landing after smoke threatened the cabin, leading to evacuations and chaos.
Emergency landing due to smoke
On Friday, 21 November, a flight from Warsaw to Istanbul had to abort and perform an emergency landing at Okęcie Airport after smoke appeared inside the cabin.
Root cause: faulty passenger device
Air traffic authorities reported that the smoke originated from a leakage in a battery of a private electronic device carried by a passenger. No injuries were reported.
Evacuation amid passenger confusion
After landing, the aircraft was evacuated and passengers were asked to leave part of the terminal because unattended luggage posed a potential fire risk. Police, fire personnel, border patrol, and pyrotechnics teams were present.
Background disruptions at Chopin Airport
Earlier that day, additional disruptions at Chopin Airport caused traffic congestion and large crowds in the terminal, prompting further evacuation measures.
All clear by late Saturday
Police announced on 22 November, shortly after midnight, that all disruptions at Okęcie Airport had been resolved and operations had resumed normally.
