Laptop Catches Fire on American Airlines Flight
A passenger's laptop caught fire aboard American Airlines Flight 2398 on Friday, with the pilot reporting four to five possible burn injuries before landing at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.
- 133 people were on board the Atlanta-to-Dallas flight.
- 1 passenger was treated on site and released; emergency personnel met the aircraft at the gate.
- 58 verified lithium battery air incidents have been recorded by the FAA so far this year.
- 84 laptop-related lithium battery incidents have been recorded over the past 20 years — the highest for any device category.
Why it matters: Lithium batteries can enter a process the FAA calls thermal runaway, causing rapid, uncontrolled overheating. It can occur without warning if a battery is damaged, overheated, exposed to water, overcharged, or improperly packed.
- FAA rules require lithium batteries to be stowed in carry-on baggage only, not in checked luggage.
How 11 sources split on this story
Center coverage, 6 sources: The center emphasizes confirmed facts — one treated passenger, safe landing — while providing the broadest regulatory context including international incidents.
BBC News12hLaptop catches fire on US flight, pilot reportsYNYahoo News12hLaptop catches fire on US flight, with passenger treated at airportAli11Alive (WXIA)7hAmerican Airlines flight lands safely at DFW after smoke alert from passenger device
USA Today7hLaptop fire on American Airlines flight leads to landing dramaWDWFAA Dallas19hAmerican Airlines flight lands safely at DFW after smoke reported from passenger's deviceWAWSB-TV Atlanta7hSmoke reported from passenger device on flight from Atlanta to DallasLeft coverage, 2 sources: The left leads with the pilot's own words and FAA safety data, framing the incident as part of a documented and growing aviation hazard.
Right coverage, 3 sources: The right foregrounds passenger injuries and the drama of flames in the cabin, with the New York Post and The Sun both leading on the number burned.
What’s next: CBS News has reached out to the FAA for comment; no response has been reported.
- What caused this specific laptop's battery to ignite?
- Will the FAA or American Airlines open a formal investigation?