A baggage container caught fire at Milan Malpensa Airport on Sunday during ground handling for a British Airways service to London Heathrow. Airport fire crews extinguished the blaze quickly, and the incident was contained without major disruption to operations. British Airways confirmed that a small number of checked bags were damaged on the ground, with no injuries reported and no impact on flights.
The fire broke out on the ramp while baggage was being handled, with reports varying on whether the container was being prepared for loading or was in unloading operations. The equipment involved was described in different accounts as a baggage container, cart or cargo loader, and the handling contractor named in several reports was Aviapartner. Early suggestions pointed to a lithium battery, but later reporting indicated a short circuit or mechanical fault in the baggage-handling equipment, with high summer temperatures also cited as a possible factor.
The incident highlights the operational risk posed by ground fires in baggage handling, particularly at busy airports during peak summer travel. The exact cause remains unresolved, but the event was contained on the apron before any wider airport disruption or safety escalation.