A passenger’s laptop ignited aboard American Airlines Flight 2398, emitting smoke in the rear cabin during a routine route from Atlanta to Dallas‑Fort Worth. Flight crew reported a "cabin fire in the back of the aircraft" to air traffic control and attempted to extinguish the blaze before the aircraft landed.
The passenger who was burned on the device received medical treatment on the tarmac, after which they were released from care as the plane touched down safely. Emergency responders were on the scene once the aircraft had parked, following standard aviation procedure.
The incident echoes the FAA’s warning that lithium‑ion batteries—including laptop packs—can overheat and ignite if damaged, over‑charged, exposed to water or improperly packed. In 2026 so far the regulator has logged 58 separate battery‑related incidents involving smoke or flames on U.S. flights, most of which involved laptops.
The FAA recommends that passengers store such batteries in carry‑on luggage only and urges airlines to tighten enforcement of battery handling rules. Airlines worldwide face increasing scrutiny as portable chargers and other lithium‑based devices have become the leading source of fire risks on commercial aircraft.
