Laptop Catches Fire on American Airlines Flight, Passenger Receives Medical Treatment
A passenger received medical treatment after a laptop caught fire aboard an American Airlines flight travelling from Atlanta, Georgia, to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport in Texas.
The incident occurred on American Airlines Flight 2398 on Friday, with the aircraft reportedly experiencing smoke from a passenger’s device during the landing process.
According to audio obtained by CBS News, the pilot alerted air traffic control to a “cabin fire in the back of the airplane” and said flight attendants were attempting to put it out. The pilot also reported that several passengers may have been burned by the laptop.
“I think we have about four to five passengers that were burned by the laptop. The laptop is contained about mid-aircraft,” the pilot was heard saying.
The flight subsequently landed safely at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, where emergency personnel met the aircraft as part of standard procedures.
American Airlines confirmed that the aircraft landed safely following reports of smoke from a customer’s device and praised the cabin crew for their response.
“One passenger received medical attention on site and was released,” the airline said.
The aircraft was later moved to the gate after landing.
The incident has once again highlighted concerns surrounding lithium-ion batteries, which are commonly used in laptops, mobile phones, power banks and other electronic devices carried by passengers.
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) warns that lithium batteries can overheat under various circumstances, including when they are damaged, exposed to water, overcharged or improperly packed.
According to the FAA, 58 verified incidents involving lithium batteries and smoke, fire or extreme heat have been recorded so far this year.
The regulator also said that over the past two decades, battery packs have accounted for the highest number of such incidents, while laptops have been involved in 84 recorded cases.
The FAA requires lithium-battery-powered devices and spare batteries to be carried in passengers’ carry-on baggage rather than checked luggage, allowing cabin crew to respond more quickly if a battery begins to overheat or catch fire.
The latest incident comes amid growing concerns within the aviation industry over battery-related fires aboard aircraft.
In May, an EasyJet flight travelling from Egypt to the United Kingdom was diverted to Rome after a power bank was discovered charging inside a passenger’s luggage in the aircraft’s hold. The flight was eventually rescheduled for the following day.
The UK Civil Aviation Authority has also warned that power banks are contributing to a growing number of serious incidents on flights around the world, urging passengers to understand the risks associated with lithium batteries.
Aviation authorities continue to advise passengers to follow airline and regulatory requirements when carrying electronic devices and power banks, particularly ensuring that spare lithium batteries and power banks are not placed in checked baggage.
