X-Ray Machine at Changi Airport Terminal 1 Catches Fire; Passengers Leave to Escape Smoke

Changi Airport has a well-deserved reputation for being well-operated and comfortable. As such, it seems like an extra shocking development when a fire broke out there.

Fire Breaks Out at Changi Airport Terminal 1

TikTok account “@montanaandchris” posted a short video earlier today (6 August), showing Changi Airport’s Terminal 1.

@montanaandchris After being awake for 24 hours and having a 10 hour layover this was the last thing we expected to happen right before getting on the plane @Montana Jaynee #ohno #traveldays #firehazard #flightdelay #travelcouple #whoopsies ♬ Oh No – Kreepa

Behind a glass wall, a baggage x-ray machine was burning up with grey smoke pouring out.

On the bright side, it gave a little heat to the boring old boarding process.

Gate 46 was marked as a Scoot flight to Bali’s Denpasar International Airport, the flight scheduled for departure at 7:10 am.

The screen also put the current time at 6:37 am, a very bad time for such an equipment issue. Passengers intending to board gawked at the sight, some recording it on their phones.

In the video, the caption read, “When you’re just about to board your flight to Bali and the x-ray machine bursts into flames.”

Maybe someone really needed to burn hell money for the Hungry Ghost Festival.

Roughly 18 seconds into the video, a jet of white smoke suddenly enveloped the burning machine, likely someone using a fire extinguisher.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) stated to Goody Feed that they were alerted to the fire at 6:40 pm, taking place on the second floor of Terminal 1.

They added that the fire was put out by airport staff using fire extinguishers before the SCDF arrived.

Passengers Forced to Evacuate Area Due to Smoke

One of the people behind the TikTok account, Chris, told 8world News that the fire broke out at around 6:30 am.

For a minute, there was only smoke pouring out of the x-ray machine before fire emerged from within.

Chris claimed that although the fire was put out, thick smoke continued to fill the interior and the awaiting passengers had to evacuate the area.

That or Changi Airport is so advanced that we have indoor fog for the aesthetic.

Bali Flight Delayed By 2 Hours

Chris also said that he and his girlfriend were having a ten-hour layover in Singapore on a flight from Japan to Bali and had not slept for 24 hours.

The Changi Airport staff directed them to another gate within 15 minutes and the plane took off after having been delayed 2.5 hours.

A Changi Airport Group spokesperson told 8world News that an electrical fault caused the fire in the machine. Two airport personnel put out the fire and no one was hurt.

They stated that the plane took off at around 9 am, roughly two hours from the initial scheduled time.

One commenter on the TikTok video said that the standard had dropped for Changi Airport, with either Chris or Montana replying that the airport was “still amazing” but encountering a fire “for sure was a little off.”

This wasn’t the first fire in Changi Airport. In 2017, Terminal 2 filled up with smoke due to a fire, resulting in around nine people needing medical assistance.

In 2021, a fire in Terminal 1’s basement resulted in three diverted bus services but no injuries.