A laptop caught fire aboard an American Airlines flight on Friday, August 21. American Airlines Flight 2398 is an Airbus A321 flying from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. It landed safely at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport around 6:55 p.m. local time. The flight had 133 passengers on board.
The flight crew was alerted “after reports of smoke from a customer’s device during landing.” Flight attendants then used a thermal containment bag to contain the laptop. In a statement, the airline said, “American Airlines flight 2398 landed safely at DFW after reports of smoke from a customer’s device during landing. We thank our crew for their professionalism and swift response to quickly contain the device.”
Emergency responders met the aircraft upon landing, with one patient treated and released.
Pilot Reports Four to Five Passengers Injured
Air traffic control audio captured the pilot reporting that the laptop had caught fire and that four to five passengers had been injured.
“I think we have about four to five passengers that were burned by the laptop,” the pilot can be heard saying in the recording. The laptop was located in the middle of the aircraft. The pilot added, “Once we taxi clear, I guess the best plan to follow is to the gate or any way you guys can board?”
According to the pilot, passengers suffered burns to their hands in the incident.
Lithium Battery Fire Incidents
The FAA has recorded 58 lithium battery-related incidents that resulted in either fire or smoke on planes in 2026 alone. Because lithium batteries are commonly used in electronic devices battery-related incidents can pose a safety risk aboard aircraft. According to the FAA website, “All lithium-ion batteries are capable of overheating and undergoing a process called thermal runaway.”
It added, “Thermal runaway can occur without warning as a result of various factors, including if the battery is damaged, overheated, exposed to water, overcharged, or improperly packed. Thermal runaway can also occur on its own due to manufacturing defects.”
