Summary

  • A JetBlue aircraft’s cabin was filled with smoke due to a cell phone malfunction.
  • Quick action by the cabin crew members contained the situation.
  • Lithium batteries are often the reason cell phones catch fire.

A JetBlue flight from Los Angeles to Boston faced some tense moments when its cabin was filled with smoke due to a malfunctioning cell phone. A situation like this could induce panic for the occupants of the aircraft, but thankfully, the cabin crew members jumped into action and contained the situation quickly.

Smoke in the cabin

On August 20, a

JetBlue

flight from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) faced a tricky situation during its final descent. According to CBS News, passengers saw smoke coming out of the first-class cabin.

JetBlue Airways Airbus A321-231 landing at Los Angeles International Airport.

Photo: Angel DiBilio | Shutterstock

The incident took place on an Airbus A321 aircraft that was operating flight B6 988, a red-eye service that departs LAX at 22:25 and arrives in Boston at 07:01.

One of the passengers on the flight, Laura Benson, told CBS News that she saw heavy smoke coming out of the seating area of the first-class cabin. She added that there was a strong burning plastic smell, and soon after, the cabin was filled with smoke.

Cabin crew jumps into action

The flight attendants on the aircraft wasted no time in addressing the situation and began clearing the space by moving passengers to other empty seats away from the smoke. Benson said,

“They went and they got the fire extinguisher, made sure that everyone was safe and out of the seat and that they were actually safely put into other seats, and then they announced that they were putting the air on to get the air cleared up because at that point your eyes started hurting.”

JetBlue Airways Airbus A321-231 at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL).

Photo: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock

Eventually, the cabin crew members decided to put the phone away in the lavatory and close the door. After some tense moments, the situation seemed under control, and relieved passengers started clapping to appreciate the flight attendants’ efforts and quick thinking.

JetBlue said the flight landed safely and that no injuries were reported after the incident. The carrier added that it would work with relevant authorities to investigate the incident.

Not the first time

Numerous incidents have occurred in the past in which a malfunctioning cell phone has caused flight disruption. Earlier this month, a Southwest Airlines flight from Chicago to Miami had to divert to Palm Beach after smoke was seen coming out of a cell phone.

Southwest Airlines Boeing 737s at Dallas Love Field.

Photo: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock

In 2021, an Alaska Airlines flight from Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) to Seattle Tacoma International (SEA) had a

cell phone fire onboard after it landed

. The incident led to an emergency evacuation of the occupants via evacuation slides.

The primary reason for cell phones catching fire is the lithium batteries used in them. One of the reasons it is discouraged to retrieve cell phones if they become lodged between airplane seats is that the

damage to the battery could potentially cause a fire

.

This is precisely what happened in 2020 on a British Airways flight from London Gatwick to Tampa, Florida. A passenger’s cell phone got caught in a business class seat’s folding mechanism. The phone’s battery apparently got punctured, which led to smoke coming out of the seat, forcing the flight to divert to Bermuda.

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Passenger’s Phone Crushed In British Airways Seat Causing Diversion

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