A laptop caught fire aboard American Airlines Flight 2398 during landing at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport on Friday, burning at least one passenger and triggering an onboard emergency response.
The flight originated at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Flight attendants contained the fire using a thermal containment bag, according to the FAA. The aircraft, an Airbus A321, taxied to the gate under its own power after landing. Emergency personnel met the plane at the gate per standard procedure.
One passenger was treated on site for burns and later released, American said. The airline credited crew for a swift response in containing the device.
The FAA has recorded 58 lithium-ion battery incidents involving smoke or fire on passenger aircraft so far this year. The agency notes that thermal runaway — the rapid, self-sustaining heat reaction behind these fires — can occur without warning due to battery damage, overheating, water exposure, overcharging, improper packing, or manufacturing defects.
Federal regulations require lithium-ion batteries to be carried in cabin baggage only, not checked. The reasoning is straightforward: a fire in the cabin can be fought by crew; a fire in the hold is a different problem entirely. Thermal containment bags, now standard equipment on most Part 121 carriers, are designed to isolate a burning device and limit the spread of heat and smoke long enough to get the aircraft on the ground.
With 58 incidents logged through August, 2025 is tracking toward another high-volume year for battery-related in-flight emergencies.
