A baggage cart carrying suitcases unloaded from a British Airways flight caught fire at Terminal 1 of Milan Malpensa Airport on Sunday, August 16, shortly before 13:00 local time. Airport firefighters responded to extinguish the flames on the apron, and no injuries were reported. Ground-handling staff from Aviapartner moved nearby baggage containers away from the scene to prevent the fire from spreading.
Initial speculation suggested that a damaged lithium-ion battery in passenger luggage might have caused the blaze. However, subsequent reporting ruled out a lithium-ion battery failure and attributed the fire to a potential short circuit within the baggage cart itself.
British Airways confirmed that a small number of checked bags were damaged during the incident. An airline spokesperson stated there was no impact to flight operations and that affected passengers have been contacted. An investigation with ground partners is underway to determine the cause.
