Alaska Airlines Flight Diverts After Passenger Power Bank Fire

Last updated: 27 February 2026 04:43

By Scott Pole

3 Min Read

Regulators around the world are tightening rules on power banks and other lithium-ion devices in response to recent aircraft battery fire incidents © Oleg Yunakov

An Alaska Airlines flight bound for Washington state from Kansas returned to its departure airport after a passenger’s power bank spontaneously caught fire after takeoff. While federal authorities reported no major injuries, one passenger was treated for minor burns. Investigations are still ongoing.

Flight tracking data details AS2117’s route after declaring an emergency. — Flight tracking data illustrates AS2117’s path during the emergency diversion © AirNav Radar Systems

Emergency Return to Wichita

Flight AS2117, operated by Horizon Air for Alaska Airlines, departed Wichita Eisenhower National Airport in Kansas at about 1:52 p.m. on Sunday, 22. Feb. The aircraft was intended to fly to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. However, minutes after takeoff, the Embraer 175 crew declared a general emergency by issuing a squawk code 7700 and returned to Wichita, according to AirNav data.

The Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) said crew reacted swiftly and used a fire extinguisher to put out the blaze after a passenger’s portable battery device overheated and caught fire in the cabin. The device was placed in a thermal containment bag as the aircraft prepared to land.

The plane landed safely back in Wichita about 56 minutes after initial departure. One of the 76 passengers on board was hospitalised with “minor burns”. Thankfully, no severe injuries were reported.

One passenger told media outlets:

“I was right next to her, and it was just sitting in her lap, not being played with, not being touched and it exploded.”

Hawaiian Airlines and Alaskan Airlines logos on aircraft — Safety guidance recommends carrying lithium-ion batteries only in cabin baggage due to the difficulty of managing fires in flight © Alaskan Airlines

Lithium battery risks

Lithium-ion batteries are known to pose fire risks due to “thermal runaways”, an uncontrollable chemical reaction caused by damage or overheating. Countless incidents linked to lithium battery packs have been recorded between 2006 and 2023. For this reason, the FAA prompts airlines to report cases involving dangerous goods, including battery-powered devices.

Safety concerns have also prompted tighter rules overseas. Japan’s transport ministry is expected to crack down on the use of portable charging devices from April.

Passengers onboard flight AS2117 were later ushered onto a replacement aircraft. Despite arriving several hours behind schedule, Alaska Airlines noted that it appreciated the passengers’ patience.

What precautions do you think airlines should take to prevent battery fires onboard? Comment down below!

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ByScott Pole

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Aviation Reporter - With experience across customer service, hospitality, and content creation, Scott has developed a strong foundation in communication, teamwork, and leadership through coordinating large-scale events, managing social media platforms and crafting engaging written content.