A passenger sustained minor burn injuries after a laptop caught fire on board an American Airlines flight from Atlanta to Dallas on Friday, according to reports from CBS News.
American Airlines Flight 2398, which was carrying 133 passengers, experienced the fire approximately 30 minutes before landing, CBS reported, citing a passenger on board.
“We’re hustling down now,” the flight’s pilot said to air traffic control (ATC) after reporting the fire. “The flight attendants are trying to put it out now.”
According to CBS, the laptop’s owner tossed the burning device into the aisle, where the flight crew successfully contained it inside a thermal bag after about five minutes.
The pilot later confirmed to ATC that the fire, which he said at the time he believed injured “four to five passengers,” was contained to the back of the Airbus A321 before requesting an expedited approach to Dallas and medical services upon arrival.
The flight landed safely at Dallas International Airport and taxied to a gate, where firefighters boarded the aircraft to inspect the cabin, according to footage published by ABC News.
The incident highlights the ongoing warnings issued by the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regarding the potential fire hazards posed by devices containing lithium-ion rechargeable batteries, including laptops, cell phones, and other common electronics.
The FAA explains that the primary danger lies in a phenomenon known as “thermal runaway,” which can occur when a battery is damaged, overheated, exposed to certain elements, or simply defective.
To mitigate these risks, FAA regulations mandate that all large lithium-ion batteries, such as those found in portable chargers, must be carried in carry-on luggage rather than checked baggage. This ensures that flight crew members can quickly identify and extinguish a fire if thermal runaway occurs, although certain sizes and quantities of batteries are banned entirely.
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