Laptop Fire on American Airlines Flight Injures at Least One Passenger
A laptop computer caught fire on Friday aboard an American Airlines flight from Atlanta to Dallas-Fort Worth, injuring at least one passenger, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
The flight landed safely at its intended destination, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, after flight attendants used a thermal containment bag — a fireproof pouch that traps smoke, heat and flames — to isolate the computer, an F.A.A. spokesman said. Emergency personnel met the flight on the ground, an airline spokesman said.
One of the pilots told air traffic controllers that there had been a cabin fire in the back of the airplane and estimated that four to five passengers had been burned, according to air traffic control audio. The pilot added that 133 people were on board the aircraft, an Airbus A321.
After the plane landed, at about 6:55 p.m. local time, one passenger received on-site medical attention before being released, an airline spokesman said.
The F.A.A. is investigating the incident.
Lithium batteries, which are common in electronics like laptops, cellphones and smart watches, can overheat and in some cases, spark fires. In recent years, governments and airlines around the world have increasingly restricted how passengers can travel with products containing these batteries.
In the United States, lithium batteries are generally banned from checked baggage unless the devices that include them are powered off. Spare lithium batteries, such as portable chargers and power banks, cannot be checked and must be in carry-on baggage.
The F.A.A. has verified 58 incidents in which a lithium battery led to smoke, fire or extreme heat on passenger or cargo flights as of mid-August. The majority of cases have involved battery packs, and a handful led to the flight being diverted from its intended destination.
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