Alaska Airlines Credit Card Reader Fire Causes Emergency Landing

Patrick Clarke
by Patrick Clarke
Last updated: 5:09 PM ET, Mon October 12, 2015

A trash can fire touched off by a credit card reader inside the cabin of an Alaska Airlines plane forced the Seattle-bound flight to make an emergency landing in Buffalo, New York, Monday morning, Buffalo's WIVB reported.

The jet was traveling from Newark, New Jersey, when it diverted to Buffalo Niagara International Airport, landing shortly after 8 a.m. local time Monday.

The fire, which crew members were able to put out with an extinguisher, was said to be the result of an overheated credit card reader that ignited shortly after it was thrown away, according to Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority spokesman C. Douglas Hartmayer.

WIVB's Katie Alexander confirmed the cause via Twitter.

The fire reportedly occurred in the plane's rear galley.

Alaska Air later said that it was the device's battery that sparked the fire, via WIVB's Jordan Williams.

The flight was carrying 189 passengers and crew, none of which suffered injuries, per the airline.

Alexander reported that at least one passenger praised the crew's response to the scary situation.

Upon landing in Buffalo, the plane was met by officials from the Buffalo Fire Department, who weren't on the scene very long, per Alexander.

A new aircraft scheduled to fly affected passengers to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport was expected to arrive at Buffalo Niagara Airport by 4 p.m. local time Monday.

WIVB's Callan Gray reported the new flight was scheduled to take off for Seattle around dinnertime Monday.


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Patrick Clarke

Patrick Clarke

Senior Editor

A Maryland native and wanderer who has lived across the U.S. from North Carolina to SoCal, Patrick Clarke graduated from Towson University with a B.S. in journalism. He previously worked for Bleacher

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