Five passengers suffered burns after a laptop caught fire inside the cabin of an American Airlines flight shortly before it landed in Dallas, Texas.
The incident happened on Friday aboard Flight 2398, which was travelling from Atlanta, Georgia, to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. There were 133 passengers on board when the device reportedly burst into flames at the rear of the aircraft.
Audio obtained by CBS News captured the pilot informing air traffic control about the situation, reporting a cabin fire and saying flight attendants were working to extinguish it.
The pilot also indicated that around four to five passengers had suffered burns from the laptop. The aircraft continued its approach and landed safely, with emergency crews waiting at the airport to assist those affected.
One passenger required medical attention following the incident. American Airlines later praised its crew for their quick response in containing the device and ensuring the aircraft landed safely.
Lithium-ion batteries used in laptops and other electronic devices can experience a phenomenon known as thermal runaway, which can cause rapid overheating, smoke or fire. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said such incidents can occur if batteries are damaged, overheated, exposed to water, overcharged or improperly packed.
According to FAA data, at least 56 incidents involving lithium batteries and reports of smoke, fire or overheating have been recorded on flights this year.
The incident comes amid another recent aviation scare involving American Airlines, after two aircraft were reportedly operating under the same flight call sign near Phoenix. Air traffic controllers detected the issue and intervened, with both flights continuing safely.
