DENVER- Passengers aboard a Southwest Airlines (WN) Boeing 737 evacuated after a cell phone battery ignited and caused a seat fire while the aircraft was at the gate at Denver International Airport (DEN).
The incident occurred Friday as the plane prepared for departure to Houston with 108 passengers onboard.
Southwest Flight Evacuation at Denver
According to Southwest, passengers at the rear of the plane evacuated using emergency slides, while those at the front exited via the jet bridge. Crew members extinguished the seat fire.
Preliminary reports indicate one passenger sustained a minor injury during the evacuation, and the passenger whose phone battery ignited is receiving treatment for burns.
A Spokesperson for the airline stated,
Southwest’s customer care team is working to accommodate the passengers on another aircraft to their original destination of Houston. Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of its customers and employees.”
Southwest Spokesperson
The flight WN3316 arrived in Houston at William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) three hours later than scheduled, according to FlightAware.
The aircraft involved in the incident is a Boeing 737-700, registered as N429WN. Further, it is a 22-year-old aircraft.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed it would investigate the incident. Southwest stated that the cause of the battery malfunction remains under investigation.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revealed a more than 42% increase in lithium-ion battery fires on passenger planes over the past five years, according to data provided to CBS News.
Lithium-ion batteries, widely used in devices like cell phones, laptops, and tablets, have become a growing safety concern. FAA data indicates that since 2021, there has been at least one lithium-ion battery-related incident aboard a U.S. passenger plane every week.
In response to the risks, the FAA banned uninstalled lithium-ion batteries from checked luggage in 2020. Passengers are required to keep these batteries in their carry-on bags to allow quick access in case of an emergency.
Similar Incident
Chaos unfolded at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) on July 12, 2024, when an American Airlines (AA) flight to Miami (MIA) was evacuated after smoke filled the cabin, reportedly caused by a passenger’s laptop.
The incident occurred around noon as Flight AA2045, an Airbus A321, was preparing for departure. Passengers and crew evacuated the aircraft using emergency slides after smoke was detected.
“It was desperate until someone opened the middle door and we were able to escape,” a passenger shared on social media, describing the situation. Another passenger reported a “light stampede” as people rushed to exit amid cries of “Fire in the back!”
American Airlines later confirmed that the smoke originated from a laptop in a passenger’s bag. Crew members quickly removed the device, and mitigated further risk.
Also Read American Airlines A321 Filled with Smoke at San Francisco, Passengers Injured
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