An American Airlines flight carrying 133 people landed safely at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) on Friday evening after a passenger's laptop battery caught fire, filling the cabin with smoke. The incident occurred as American Airlines Flight 2398, en route from Atlanta, was approaching DFW.
Flight attendants quickly contained the fire using a thermal containment bag. Emergency personnel met the aircraft upon its arrival at approximately 6:55 p.m. local time. The plane taxied to the gate under its own power.
One passenger received medical attention at the scene and was subsequently released. Passengers reported that the fire began about 30 minutes before landing.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed it is investigating the incident. According to the FAA, lithium batteries, commonly used in laptops and other electronic devices, can pose a fire risk if they enter a process known as thermal runaway. This can occur without warning due to factors such as damage, overheating, exposure to water, overcharging, or improper packing.
American Airlines confirmed the smoke originated from a customer's device and praised the crew's swift response. The airline stated, "We thank our crew for their professionalism and swift response to quickly contain the device."