Key Points
- As reported by news agency Reuters and corroborated by Dutch media outlets including NOS, RTL Nieuws, and NL Times, Royal Dutch Airlines (KLM) confirmed on Friday, November 13, 2026, that it has filed a formal police complaint with Dutch prosecutors over an aviation safety incident involving an exploding passenger power bank in September.
- While KLM officially declined to identify the passenger involved due to privacy considerations, multiple Dutch media sources cited in the reports identified the individual as Camiel Eurlings, the airline’s former chief executive.
- The incident occurred during flight KL735 bound for Curaçao on September 17, 2026, when a lithium-ion power bank overheated and caught fire approximately five and a half hours into the trip, forcing the Boeing 777 aircraft to turn back over the Atlantic and make an emergency return to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.
- According to witness accounts and media reports, the device allegedly belonged to Camiel Eurlings and was being charged in violation of airline regulations at the time of the thermal runaway, resulting in minor burns to one passenger and significant damage to a Business Class seat.
- In an official statement regarding the legal action, KLM emphasized: “It is standard practice for KLM to file a complaint in cases of serious breaches of safety rules by passengers that put the safety of a flight, its passengers or crew at risk”.
- The Dutch Public Prosecution Service confirmed that the legal complaint has been received, though prosecutors have yet to determine whether formal criminal charges or prosecution will follow. Simultaneously, the Dutch Safety Board (Onderzoeksraad voor Veiligheid) has launched an independent investigation into the incident, with findings expected by late 2027.
Netherlands (Amsterdam Times News) November 13, 2026 – Royal Dutch Airlines (KLM) has escalated legal pressure following a hazardous in-flight emergency earlier this autumn, confirming that it has lodged a formal complaint with Dutch prosecutors regarding a passenger power bank fire. As reported by Reuters and prominent Dutch media organizations, the September incident—which forced a transatlantic flight to abort its journey and return to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol—reportedly involves the airline’s former chief executive, Camiel Eurlings. While corporate representatives maintained strict confidentiality regarding the passenger’s identity, the airline stressed that taking legal action aligns with mandatory protocol when severe safety violations threaten the lives of passengers and crew.
What Happened Aboard Flight KL735 When the Power Bank Ignited?
The safety emergency unfolded on September 17, 2026, aboard KLM flight KL735 operating from Amsterdam to Curaçao. Approximately five and a half hours after takeoff, while flying over the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Scotland, a lithium-ion power bank suddenly overheated and suffered thermal runaway.
Passengers reported hearing a loud bang before flames and thick smoke erupted around a Business Class seat. Cabin crew members acted swiftly to extinguish the fire, preventing a catastrophic escalation, but the intense heat caused substantial physical damage to the aircraft interior. One person on board—identified in separate reports as Camiel Eurlings—sustained minor burns during the incident.
Due to the severity of the smoke and potential structural risks, the flight crew made the mandatory decision to turn the Boeing 777 around and execute an emergency return to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. The unexpected disruption affected all 322 passengers on board, who were subsequently provided hotel accommodations and transferred to an alternative flight to Curaçao the following morning.
Why Has KLM Filed a Police Complaint Over the Incident?
Following an internal investigation into the root causes of the emergency, airline executives decided to refer the matter to law enforcement authorities. While international and Dutch aviation regulations strictly permit passengers to carry portable power banks in cabin baggage under strict capacity limits (typically under 100 Wh), commercial carriers universally prohibit storing them in overhead bins or using them to charge electronic devices while on board.
According to reports by RTL Nieuws and Luchtvaartnieuws, investigators examined whether the power bank involved in the fire was actively connected and charging at the time of the explosion—a direct contravention of safety directives. Addressing the rationale behind the legal filing, KLM stated in an official communication: “It is standard practice for KLM to file a complaint in cases of serious breaches of safety rules by passengers that put the safety of a flight, its passengers or crew at risk”.
Although Dutch media outlets—including NOS and NL Times—widely cited sources identifying the passenger as former CEO Camiel Eurlings, KLM officials declined to confirm or deny the individual’s identity, citing strict legal privacy guidelines. A spokesperson for the Dutch Public Prosecution Service confirmed that the complaint has been officially registered, though prosecutors have not yet determined whether formal criminal charges will be brought against the passenger.
What Is the Scope of the Independent Dutch Safety Board Investigation?
Aside from the criminal complaint lodged by KLM, the incident has triggered a comprehensive external inquiry. The Dutch Safety Board (Onderzoeksraad voor Veiligheid, or OVV) formally took over jurisdiction of the case—transferring oversight from British aviation authorities given that the aircraft was registered in the Netherlands and operated by a Dutch carrier.
The OVV investigation is tasked with examining multiple critical facets of the emergency, including:
- The exact technical trigger and manufacturing parameters of the lithium-ion power bank fire.
- Compliance verification regarding passenger adherence to battery carriage and usage bans.
- An evaluation of cabin crew emergency response procedures and tactical firefighting protocols.
- An assessment of whether the Boeing 777 carried sufficient specialized firefighting and containment equipment for lithium battery fires.
The Dutch Safety Board indicated that its thorough technical inquiry is complex and expected to continue through the end of 2027.
Background of the Development
The carriage of lithium-ion batteries and portable power banks has become one of the most critical safety challenges facing global commercial aviation. Because lithium cells are susceptible to “thermal runaway”—a self-sustaining chemical reaction that generates extreme heat, toxic gases, and sudden jet flames when short-circuited, overcharged, or physically damaged—regulatory bodies such as the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) enforce rigid safety protocols. Passengers are required to keep power banks in the cabin rather than checked luggage so that cabin crews can immediately detect and suppress smoke or fire. However, the strict prohibition against using or charging power banks via aircraft seat power outlets or auxiliary cables is designed precisely to eliminate the risk of overheating during high-altitude operations, where an uncontained battery fire poses an extreme hazard hours away from the nearest diversion airport.
Prediction on How This Development Can Affect Airline Passengers, Lithium Battery Regulations, and Corporate Accountability
The decision by a major flag carrier to pursue legal action against a high-profile individual over an onboard safety breach is expected to set a stern precedent for commercial aviation enforcement. For airline passengers worldwide, the high-profile nature of the case will likely trigger intensified pre-flight security announcements, stricter cabin baggage inspections, and zero-tolerance policies from carriers regarding the unauthorized charging of electronic devices in-flight. For regulatory authorities and airline legal departments, the outcome of the Dutch Public Prosecution Service’s review could establish clearer legal definitions for criminal negligence in aviation safety breaches, encouraging airlines to aggressively seek financial restitution and legal penalties against travelers who willfully disregard lithium battery safety guidelines.
