Baggage Cart Fire Erupts at Milan Malpensa Airport Before London Flight

A fire broke out Sunday morning in an Aviapartner baggage cart at Milan Malpensa Airport while crews were loading luggage for British Airways flight BA585 bound for London. Airport firefighters responded immediately and extinguished the blaze quickly, preventing it from spreading to other containers or aircraft. The cause was determined to be an electrical short circuit rather than lithium batteries, as initially feared. Damage was limited to the single cart, and no injuries were reported among ground staff or passengers. The swift response ensured the incident remained contained and did not escalate into a larger emergency.

Passenger Tracey Vavrin and her family were among those affected, losing their checked luggage in the fire. British Airways provided $500 to each impacted traveler to cover essential items. Journalist Jon Sopel, who was also booked on the flight, filmed the scene and later expressed relief that he had traveled with only carry-on bags. Video of the incident shows thick smoke rising from the baggage container as firefighters work and other carts are moved safely away. The quick thinking of ground crews in isolating the burning cart helped stop the fire from reaching additional luggage or spreading further across the ramp.

Airport officials confirmed that the electrical fault originated within the cart itself and posed no ongoing risk once extinguished. The rapid deployment of firefighting resources at Malpensa proved decisive in limiting both damage and disruption. Passengers on BA585 were able to continue their journey after the situation was brought under control. Incidents like this highlight the importance of strict safety protocols around ground equipment and baggage handling at major international airports. Investigators will continue examining the short circuit to prevent similar events in the future.

The event serves as a reminder of how quickly equipment failures can create hazards in busy airport environments. Thanks to the professional response by Malpensa firefighters and ground staff, what could have become a serious disruption was resolved with minimal impact beyond the loss of some luggage. Travelers affected by the fire received prompt assistance from the airline. Operations at the airport returned to normal shortly afterward, allowing flights to proceed with only limited delay. Safety remains the top priority whenever such unexpected incidents occur on the tarmac.