Happy Thanksgiving indeed. In what could have been a tragic situation, passengers on a Southwest Airlines flight are breathing a sigh of relief and thanks for some fortuitous timing.
A cell phone and a seat cushion caught fire in the cabin, forcing the passengers to be evacuated. The cell phone fire triggered the fire on the sea cushion. Fortunately, the plane was parked on the tarmac at the time.
The incident happened at Denver International Airport. There were 108 passengers on the flight. There were two injuries, including one passenger who suffered burns.
An airline spokesperson confirmed the incident.
Some passengers in the rear of the plane fled using the emergency slides, while others near the front walked out the front door toward the jet bridge. Crew members were able to extinguish the fires.
“Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of its customers and employees. The incident remains under investigation,” the spokesperson said.
The flight arrived at its original destination in Houston three hours later than scheduled. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating.
This is not the first time that a lithium battery in a cell phone has been the cause of a problem.
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
