A laptop battery caught fire aboard an American Airlines flight from Atlanta to Dallas on Friday, burning four to five passengers’ hands before crew members contained the blaze, according to air traffic control audio obtained by CBS Texas.
Flight 2398, an Airbus A321 carrying about 133 people, departed Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and landed safely at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport around 6:55 p.m. local time. Flight attendants contained the fire using a thermal containment bag, and the aircraft taxied to the gate under its own power, where emergency crews were waiting.
What We Know So Far
The pilot alerted air traffic control to the fire before landing. “I think we have about four to five passengers that were burned by the laptop,” the pilot said, according to CBS Texas, adding that the device was contained about mid-aircraft. The pilot said the affected passengers suffered burns to their hands.
One passenger received medical treatment on site and was released shortly afterward, according to the airline and a spokesperson for Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.
American Airlines confirmed the incident in a statement, saying Flight 2398 landed safely after reports of smoke from a customer’s device during landing and thanking the crew for its professionalism and swift response in containing it. The Federal Aviation Administration also confirmed the incident, saying it is investigating and referring further questions to the airline.
Why This Matters
Lithium batteries, which power most laptops, phones, charging cases and portable chargers, are capable of overheating and entering a process known as thermal runaway, according to the FAA. That reaction can occur without warning due to damage, overcharging, water exposure, improper packing or manufacturing defects.
The FAA has recorded 58 incidents so far this year involving lithium batteries that caused smoke or fire aboard passenger planes, a pace that reflects a persistent and growing safety concern for airlines as passengers increasingly travel with multiple battery powered devices. Friday’s incident adds to that pattern, and the use of a thermal containment bag by the crew illustrates how airlines have adapted their onboard safety procedures specifically to isolate and smother these fires before they can spread further through the cabin.
What Happens Next
The FAA said its investigation into the incident is ongoing, though it has not provided a timeline for when findings might be released. American Airlines has not indicated whether the incident will prompt any changes to its device safety guidance for passengers.
Given the rising frequency of lithium battery incidents recorded industrywide this year, continued scrutiny of personal electronic devices during boarding and in-flight safety briefings is likely as airlines and regulators work to reduce the risk of similar fires.
Reporting drawn from The Independent and People
