A passenger was treated for injuries after a laptop caught fire aboard an American Airlines flight travelling from Atlanta, Georgia, to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport in Texas.
American Airlines Flight 2398, operated by an Airbus A321, was approaching Dallas when smoke was reported from a passenger’s device.
The pilot alerted air traffic control to a “cabin fire in the back of the airplane”, while flight attendants worked to extinguish and contain the fire.
According to audio obtained by CBS News, the pilot said around four or five passengers may have been burned by the laptop.
The device was eventually contained, allowing the aircraft to continue its landing. The plane reached Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport safely and taxied to the gate, where emergency personnel were waiting as a precaution.
American Airlines confirmed that the aircraft landed safely following reports of smoke from a customer’s device. The airline praised its crew for acting quickly to contain the situation.
One passenger received medical treatment at the airport but was later released.
The incident has renewed attention on the potential dangers posed by lithium-ion batteries, which are commonly used in laptops, mobile phones and portable chargers.
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) warns that lithium batteries can overheat when damaged, exposed to water, overcharged or improperly packed.
The regulator has recorded 58 verified incidents involving lithium batteries so far this year, including cases involving smoke, fire or extreme heat. Over the past two decades, laptops have been linked to 84 verified battery-related incidents.
The FAA requires spare lithium batteries and devices containing them to be carried in passengers’ carry-on luggage rather than checked baggage, where a fire could be harder to detect or contain.
Airlines and aviation authorities have increasingly warned travellers about battery-related fires, with power banks also linked to a growing number of incidents on aircraft.
Despite the onboard fire, Flight 2398 landed safely, with emergency crews responding after the aircraft reached the gate.
