{"id":134424,"date":"2026-02-26T04:05:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-25T22:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/?p=134424"},"modified":"2026-02-26T01:01:17","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T19:31:17","slug":"alaska-airlines-declares-emergency-after-fire-due-to-lithium-battery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/26\/alaska-airlines-declares-emergency-after-fire-due-to-lithium-battery\/","title":{"rendered":"Alaska Airlines Embraer 175 Declares Emergency After Fire Due to Lithium Battery"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WICHITA\u2013<\/strong> An Alaska Airlines (AS)<\/a> regional flight returned to Wichita Eisenhower National Airport (ICT) on Sunday (February 22, 2026) after a passenger\u2019s power bank caught fire shortly after departure. The incident forced the crew to declare an emergency and delay the service to Seattle by several hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Flight AS2117, operated by Horizon Air, had departed ICT at approximately 1:52 p.m. en route to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)<\/a>. The Embraer 175 aircraft issued squawk code 7700 minutes after takeoff, signaling a general emergency and requesting immediate assistance from air traffic control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Alaska
Photo: Johnnyw3 | Wikimedia Commons
https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:HorizonAirDash8-Q400N445QX_YYJJuly2019.jpg<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Alaska’s Horizon Air Emergency Diversion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The flight crew acted quickly after smoke<\/a> emerged from a portable battery pack inside the cabin. According to reports, the device overheated and ignited while resting on a passenger\u2019s lap, without being actively used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pilots decided to return to ICT as a precautionary measure. The aircraft landed safely about 56 minutes after departure, where emergency services met the flight on arrival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There were 76 passengers onboard at the time of the incident. One passenger sustained minor burns and received medical attention at a local hospital, while no other injuries were reported among travelers or crew.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cabin crew members<\/a> reportedly extinguished the smoking device in the aisle using onboard firefighting equipment. Their prompt response prevented further damage and ensured passenger safety during the diversion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Alaska
Photo: TealComet | Wikimedia Commons
https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:1.5V_Lithium_Battery_Charger_and_Cable_Front_Picture.png<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Lithium Battery Risks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Portable power banks use lithium-ion batteries, which aviation regulators classify as hazardous materials due to their fire risk. When damaged, overheated, or defective, these batteries can experience \u201cthermal runaway,\u201d a chain reaction that causes rapid self-heating and potential explosion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Airlines strictly regulate how passengers carry lithium batteries onboard. Most carriers require spare batteries to remain in carry-on baggage rather than checked luggage, allowing cabin crew to respond quickly if overheating occurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Several airlines worldwide have tightened rules around portable chargers. Japan\u2019s transport ministry is preparing to introduce new restrictions that will limit the use of power banks during flights and cap the number and capacity of devices allowed per passenger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under the expected rules, passengers traveling on domestic Japanese routes may be restricted to two portable chargers each, with a maximum rating of 160Wh per device.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Horizon Air Embraer E175 | Photo: Alaska Airlines<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Flight Delay Impact<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Following inspections and safety checks, Alaska Airlines arranged a replacement aircraft to complete the journey to Seattle. The rescheduled service departed Wichita at 9:16 p.m. local time, reported The Independent<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The flight eventually arrived at SEA more than seven hours behind its original schedule. Despite the extended delay, airline officials confirmed that no additional injuries occurred during the continuation of the journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alaska Air Group has been contacted for further comment regarding the incident and any potential review of onboard battery policies. The event adds to a growing number of aviation incidents involving portable electronic devices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Industry experts continue to stress passenger awareness about lithium battery safety. While such events remain rare, regulators and airlines treat them seriously due to the confined environment of an aircraft cabin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As global air travel increases, airlines are expected to maintain strict enforcement of battery carriage rules to minimize in-flight fire risks and ensure operational safety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Join us on\u00a0Telegram Group\u00a0<\/a>for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on\u00a0Google News<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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