An Australian woman whose face, hands and hair were burned when her headphones exploded on a plane won't be compensated by manufacturer Apple because third-party batteries were at fault.
The woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, was napping on a Beijing to Melbourne flight in February when she was awoken by the sound of an explosion and a burning sensation on her face.
"Our investigation indicated the issue was caused by a third-party battery," an Apple representative said in a statement issued by the woman's lawyers on Friday.
The woman, whose face, hands and hair were burned, had sought to be reimbursed to replace her headphones and several items of ruined clothing.
She says she bought the headphones duty-free in 2014 and the AAA batteries in Australia.
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She says she was extremely disappointed with Apple's decision.
"The headphones don't work without batteries, yet nowhere on the headphones - or their packaging - did it specify which brand of batteries should be used," she says in a statement.
Following the mid-air incident, the national aviation safety regulator issued a warning to passengers about battery-powered devices.
"Batteries should be kept in an approved stowage, unless in use," the Australian Transport Safety Bureau warned in March.
Apple has been contacted for comment.
