An American Airlines flight en route from Philadelphia to Phoenix was forced to make an unexpected landing due to a fire incident on board. The incident, which occurred on Saturday, resulted in a smoky atmosphere within the aircraft, compelling it to land at Washington Dulles International Airport. The flight was carrying 160 passengers and a crew of six, all of whom landed safely.
Adriana Novello, a 22-year-old passenger, recounted her experience to ABC News. She was awakened from her sleep by a flight attendant who was rushing to retrieve a fire extinguisher from the cabin. Novello recalled the smell of smoke and noticed several passengers coughing. She turned around to see a fire in the aisle.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that the flight, American Airlines Flight 357, was greeted by emergency services upon landing at approximately 11:50 a.m. The FAA did not disclose the type of device that had ignited.
American Airlines issued a statement noting that the crew members had successfully contained the device before the plane landed. The increase in incidents of devices catching fire on flights has been a growing concern. The FAA reported a 388% increase in such incidents over the past decade, largely due to the proliferation of electronic devices like cell phones and portable battery chargers.
In a similar incident in February, a power bank ignited on a Batik Airlines flight from Malaysia to Bangkok just before landing, filling the cabin with smoke. The fire was extinguished by flight attendants using cabin fire extinguishers and a bottle of water.
In response to these incidents, the Travel Safety Administration (TSA) has updated its list of prohibited items in checked luggage. The list now includes gas cartridge or butane-powered curling irons or flat irons, including gas refills. However, corded versions of these devices are still permitted.