Laptop catches fire on US flight, pilot reports

A passenger's laptop ignited aboard an American Airlines flight, prompting the pilot to report smoke and flames in the cabin, according to audio obtained by CBS News. "Cabin occurrence successful the backmost of the airplane," the aviator said successful audio obtained by the BBC's US reporting spouse CBS News. "The formation attendants are trying to enactment it retired now." "I deliberation we person astir 4 to 5 passengers that were burned by the laptop. The laptop is contained astir mid-aircraft." American Airlines Flight 2398, en route from Atlanta, Georgia, landed at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport in Texas on Friday. One passenger was treated and released after the aircraft touched down. The hose said successful a connection that the formation landed safely "after reports of fume from a customer's instrumentality during landing. We convey our unit for their professionalism and swift effect to rapidly incorporate the device." The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) warns that lithium batteries, including laptop batteries, are capable of overheating "as a effect of assorted factors, including if the artillery is damaged, overheated, exposed to water, overcharged, oregon improperly packed". The FAA recorded 58 verified lithium artillery aerial incidents truthful acold this twelvemonth involving smoke, occurrence oregon utmost heat. In the past 20 years, the highest fig of incidents was related to artillery packs, with 84 cases related to laptops. Lithium batteries indispensable beryllium stowed successful carry-on baggage only, the US regulator says. In May, a UK-bound EasyJet formation from Egypt was diverted to Rome aft a powerfulness slope was recovered to beryllium charging successful a passenger's luggage successful the clasp of the aircraft. The formation was rescheduled for the adjacent day. The UK's aviation regulator the Civil Aviation Authority has said powerfulness banks are causing a increasing fig of superior issues connected flights worldwide, and urged much consciousness arsenic portable chargers transportation "serious risks" of overheating oregon catching fire.