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.
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.”
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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