A Southwest Airlines flight was thrown into chaos at Denver International Airport on Friday when a passenger’s cell phone battery ignited, leading to a seat catching fire and triggering an emergency evacuation. The incident took place aboard Flight 3316, which was preparing for its departure to Houston, Texas, with 108 passengers onboard.
As the flight was ready to take off, the passenger’s smartphone reportedly overheated, emitting thick smoke that rapidly filled the cabin. The growing smoke produced a sharp, unpleasant odor, which quickly escalated when the seat caught fire. Panic ensued as passengers, under the direction of cabin crew, were urgently instructed to evacuate.
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A video of the scene, shared by Daily Mail on Instagram, captures the chaos that unfolded inside the aircraft. “Get out, get out now!” can be heard as crew members hurriedly instructed passengers to exit. Despite the directive to leave personal belongings behind, many passengers were seen trying to grab their luggage during the frantic evacuation.
Jaquetta Anderson, one of the passengers on board, recounted the tense situation to the New York Post. She said, “There’s nowhere to go because they were exiting through the back of the plane. People were yelling, ‘Leave your stuff,’ but I actually had two dogs with me, and I wasn’t going to leave them.” Anderson’s quick thinking helped her ensure the safety of her pets amid the evacuation.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), passengers were evacuated after the fire started. Passengers seated at the front of the aircraft exited through the jet bridge, while those seated at the rear used emergency slides to exit the plane safely. One passenger sustained a minor injury during the evacuation, and the individual whose phone caused the fire suffered burns. The airline confirmed that crew members acted quickly to extinguish the fire before it could spread further.
The flight eventually made its way to Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport three hours after the incident. The FAA has confirmed that the incident is still under investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire.
This alarming event at Denver International Airport comes just weeks after another incident at Shanghai’s Hongqiao Airport, where a faulty power bank caused smoke to fill a jet bridge. The bag of a passenger caught fire, but quick action by authorities prevented any injuries. The rise in such incidents has raised concerns about the safety of carrying electronic devices, particularly those with lithium-ion batteries, on flights.
As investigations continue, both passengers and aviation authorities are reminded of the importance of safety protocols and vigilance when it comes to the transport of electronic devices and batteries on flights.
