American Airlines flight reports passenger injuries after laptop fire

An American Airlines flight from Atlanta to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport faced a mid-air scare after a passenger's laptop caught fire during landing, with the pilot reporting that several passengers may have been burned.

According to CBS News, which obtained air traffic control audio of the incident, American Airlines Flight 2398 landed safely at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport in Texas on Friday. One passenger received medical treatment at the airport and was later released, according to airport authorities.

In the audio obtained by CBS News, the pilot reported a “cabin fire in the back of the airplane” and said flight attendants were attempting to extinguish it. “I think we have about four to five passengers that were burned by the laptop,” the pilot was heard saying, adding that the device had been contained in the middle section of the aircraft. The flight had originated in Atlanta, Georgia, with 133 people on board.

American Airlines said the aircraft landed safely after smoke was reported from a customer's device during landing. The airline praised the crew for their “professionalism and swift response” in quickly containing the device. Emergency personnel met the aircraft after it had taxied to the gate.

The incident once again highlights concerns surrounding lithium-ion batteries on aircraft. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) warns that lithium batteries can overheat or catch fire if they are damaged, overheated, exposed to water, overcharged or improperly packed. FAA data has recorded dozens of verified lithium battery incidents involving smoke, fire or extreme heat on flights this year, with laptops among the devices linked to such cases. The US aviation regulator requires lithium batteries to be carried in cabin baggage rather than checked luggage. Earlier this year, an Alaska Airlines flight was forced to return to Seattle after a passenger's power bank overheated and caught fire.