ATLANTA/DALLAS — Several passengers were reportedly injured Friday when a laptop caught fire aboard an American Airlines flight from Atlanta to Dallas-Fort Worth, filling parts of the cabin with smoke before the crew contained the blaze.
American Airlines Flight 2398, an Airbus A321 carrying 133 people, departed Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport around 5:30 p.m. ET on Aug. 21.
Laptop Catches Fire on American Airlines Flight from Atlanta to Dallas
About 30 minutes before landing, a passenger’s laptop began smoking and erupted in flames, according to accounts from those on board and air traffic control audio.
Passenger Jessica Irgens, who was seated nearby, described the scene as “absolutely terrifying.” “I just saw the smoke first, and then it all happened really fast,” she told ABC’s Good Morning America. “He was trying to get it away from him into the aisle.” Other passengers assisted as heavy smoke filled the area, and Irgens said some people later had their hands in bags of ice and appeared visibly shaken.
The pilot radioed air traffic controllers about a cabin fire toward the rear of the aircraft. Flight attendants worked to extinguish it and ultimately secured the device in a specialized thermal containment bag designed for lithium-ion battery incidents. The pilot reported that four to five passengers may have suffered burns, primarily to their hands, and requested medical personnel meet the plane.
The aircraft landed safely at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport around 8 p.m. ET (approximately 6:55 p.m. local time) and taxied to the gate under its own power. Emergency responders met the flight. American Airlines said one person was treated on scene and released. Airport officials confirmed the same, noting the injuries were minor and no hospital transport was required.
In a statement, American Airlines said: “American Airlines Flight 2398 landed safely at DFW after reports of smoke from a customer’s device during landing. We thank our crew for their professionalism and swift response to quickly contain the device.”
The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the incident. Lithium-ion batteries in personal electronic devices have been linked to multiple smoke or fire events on passenger aircraft this year, according to FAA data.
No further injuries were reported, and the plane arrived without additional incident.
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