LAPTOP BATTERY FIRE FORCES AMERICAN AIRLINES FLIGHT TO LAND IN DALLAS

A passenger received medical treatment after a laptop battery caught fire aboard American Airlines Flight 2398 on Friday. The Airbus A321 was travelling from Atlanta, Georgia to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport in Texas when the fire occurred during landing. According to air traffic control audio obtained by CBS News, the pilot reported that four to five passengers sustained burns, with the laptop contained mid-aircraft. Flight attendants used a thermal containment bag to contain the fire, and the aircraft landed safely with approximately 133 people on board.

The Federal Aviation Administration recorded 58 verified lithium battery air incidents so far this year involving smoke, fire or extreme heat. The FAA warns that lithium batteries, including those in laptops, can overheat if damaged, overheated, exposed to water, overcharged or improperly packed. In the past 20 years, battery packs have been linked to the highest number of such incidents, with 84 cases involving laptop batteries. US regulations require lithium batteries to be stowed in carry-on baggage only, not in checked luggage.

One passenger was treated for burns and released after the flight landed. American Airlines stated that the crew responded with "professionalism and swift response to quickly contain the device". The UK's Civil Aviation Authority has identified power banks and portable chargers as a growing safety concern on aircraft worldwide, urging increased awareness of the serious risks posed by these devices overheating or catching fire during flight.