Fire extinguishing system for an airplane, comprising: - at least one extinguishing agent storage unit with an activatable closing means, which, when active, makes possible an outflow of the extinguishing agent from the extinguishing agent storage unit, - a supply line, connected to the closing device and at least one outlet opening, by means of which the extinguishing agent is conductable from the extinguishing agent storage unit to the outlet opening, so as to eject it there for fighting fires, - a control unit connected to the closing device and a manually actuatable input element, by means of which the closing device is activatable in dependence on an actuation of the input element, and - one or more sensor systems (11, 12, 13), by means of which a current airplane state is determinable, wherein the control unit is constructed and configured in such a way that it activates the closing device in dependence on the current airplane state as it exists at the time of an actuation of the input element, characterized in that - the at least one outlet opening is located in a cargo hold of the airplane, which has a cargo hold door, - the control unit has a storage medium, by means of which one or more prespecified airplane states, which are stored therein, are providable, - a first of the prespecified airplane states is defined by the following conditions: - engines of the airplane are turned off, and - the cargo hold door is opened, and - the control unit is constructed and configured in such a way that in the case that the determined current airplane state is identical with the first prespecified airplane state, the closing device is not activated. - at least one extinguishing agent storage unit with an activatable closing means, which, when active, makes possible an outflow of the extinguishing agent from the extinguishing agent storage unit, - a supply line, connected to the closing device and at least one outlet opening, by means of which the extinguishing agent is conductable from the extinguishing agent storage unit to the outlet opening, so as to eject it there for fighting fires, - a control unit connected to the closing device and a manually actuatable input element, by means of which the closing device is activatable in dependence on an actuation of the input element, and - one or more sensor systems (11, 12, 13), by means of which a current airplane state is determinable, wherein the control unit is constructed and configured in such a way that it activates the closing device in dependence on the current airplane state as it exists at the time of an actuation of the input element, characterized in that - the at least one outlet opening is located in a cargo hold of the airplane, which has a cargo hold door, - the control unit has a storage medium, by means of which one or more prespecified airplane states, which are stored therein, are providable, - a first of the prespecified airplane states is defined by the following conditions: - engines of the airplane are turned off, and - the cargo hold door is opened, and - engines of the airplane are turned off, and - the cargo hold door is opened, and - the control unit is constructed and configured in such a way that in the case that the determined current airplane state is identical with the first prespecified airplane state, the closing device is not activated.