Passengers travelling from Portugal to Sweden experienced an unexpected stop in France after an electronic cigarette began overheating on board a TAP flight, prompting the crew to divert the aircraft as a precaution.

On Tuesday, 27 October, the incident occurred aboard flight TP780, which carried 172 passengers, and landed at Nantes-Atlantique Airport in western France after smoke was detected in the cabin about an hour after take-off.

As reported by Le Figaro, the crew brought the situation under control before landing.

Nevertheless, airport firefighters were waiting on the ground to assess the situation and ensure the aircraft could safely continue its journey.

According to French broadcaster RTL, which also reported on the incident, an overheating electronic cigarette caused the smoke, with the airport confirming that nobody was injured and that passengers were not required to leave the aircraft.

Safety checks

The aircraft touched down in Nantes at approximately 10:51 am local time.

Rather than evacuating the 172 passengers, airport emergency teams carried out the necessary safety procedures while everyone remained inside, with the intervention and subsequent technical checks taking around two hours.

Once the situation was assessed and the aircraft was cleared to continue, the TAP service resumed its journey to Stockholm.

Flight tracking information shows the aircraft departed Nantes at approximately 12:49pm local time and reached Stockholm later that afternoon.

Although the diversion interrupted the original schedule, the incident did not result in any reported injuries.

Dangers on board

This incident reflects the risks of carrying lithium-powered devices on passenger aircraft.

Electronic cigarettes contain batteries that can overheat, particularly if damaged, defective or accidentally activated.

In some circumstances, this can lead to smoke, fire, or a process known as thermal runaway, in which a battery generates excessive heat and becomes increasingly difficult to control.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) warns passengers to watch for signs of battery malfunction, including unusual heat, swelling, or smoke.

Anyone who notices these symptoms should immediately alert a member of the cabin crew rather than trying to deal with the problem themselves.

EASA also explains that electronic cigarettes must be transported in the aircraft cabin rather than checked baggage, which allows potential battery problems to be identified more quickly.

Vape rules

TAP permits passengers to bring electronic cigarettes and similar vaping devices in their hand luggage, but several restrictions apply.

According to the airline’s official baggage guidelines, passengers cannot transport these devices in checked baggage, and they must remain stored throughout the flight.

Furthermore, passengers are also prohibited from using or charging electronic cigarettes and their batteries on board.

The airline also requires passengers to take appropriate precautions to prevent accidental activation, reducing the risk of overheating or unintended ignition.

These restrictions align with EASA’s aviation safety guidance, which emphasises keeping battery-powered devices accessible and protecting them against accidental activation.

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