A fire in a laptop on an American Airlines passenger plane caused an emergency evacuation of passengers. Flight 2045 was preparing to depart from San Francisco to Miami when the cabin filled with smoke.
The laptop bag was burning in the rear of the aircraft. Since the plane was still on the runway, there were only three minor injuries during the commotion. Passengers were evacuated using an inflatable slide. One passenger needed to be taken to the hospital for further assistance.
In a statement, American Airlines said that the crew quickly removed the bag, and all customers exited the aircraft. The airline apologized for the inconvenience caused to customers and thanked the staff for their professional handling of the situation. The company did not disclose the laptop model.
American Airlines rules state that laptops can only be carried in carry-on luggage, with batteries up to 100 Wh. However, in individual cases, with the airline's permission, up to two additional batteries of up to 100 Wh each are allowed. Such restrictions were implemented worldwide in the late 2000s when the risks of high-capacity and high-power-density lithium batteries became apparent.
Firefighters confirmed that the laptop's lithium-ion battery caught fire. The correct way to extinguish such batteries is by submerging the device in water, which is what the fire brigade did.
Sources: CBS, Tom`s Hardware, ABC7
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