Cellphone of a passenger on an Alaska Airline jet catches fire

Wednesday, August 25, 2021

The cellphone of a passenger on an Alaska Airlines jet caught fire after the plane landed at the Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, forcing the crew to deploy evacuation slides to get everyone off, the carrier said Tuesday.

Ray Lane, an Alaska Airlines spokesperson, said the passenger’s phone “overheated and began sparking” after Flight 751 from New Orleans landed at about 8:30 p.m. Monday and was waiting for a gate.

The crew used the fire extinguishers and battery containment bag to stop the phone from smoking. Lane said the crew members deployed the plane’s evacuation slides due to “hazy” condition inside the cabin and that passengers slid down them to get out.

The passengers were taken by bus to terminal, and two received treatment at hospital, Lane said. He had no details about their conditions. There were 129 passengers and six members onboards.

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