This woman escaped serious injury when her battery-operated headphones exploded mid-flight. Picture: Supplied

The tech giant has denied the explosion was its fault, instead insisting that third-party batteries were to blame.

An Australian woman was travelling between Beijing and Melbourne when her battery-operated headphones exploded. Picture: Australian Transport Safety BureauSource:Supplied

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 claims she bought the headphones duty-free in 2014 and the AAA batteries in Australia. And while the batteries aren’t Apple products, she said she is extremely disappointed with the company’s decision not to take responsibility.

The woman was left with burns to her face, hands and hair. Picture: Australian Transport Safety BureauSource:Supplied

“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 said 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.