Fire broke out on a plane during landing approach: here's what happened

On board American Airlines flight 2398, traveling from Atlanta to Dallas-Fort Worth, a passenger's laptop battery caught fire. The incident occurred during the landing approach. The crew placed the device in a thermal bag, and the plane landed safely. Several passengers sustained minor burns.

On board American Airlines flight 2398, traveling from Atlanta to Dallas-Fort Worth, a passenger's laptop battery caught fire. The incident occurred on August 23 during the landing approach in Dallas, about 30 minutes before the end of the flight. Passenger Jessica Irgens told CBS News that the computer began to smoke, filling the entire cabin with smoke. Flight attendants quickly responded and placed the burning laptop in a thermal bag designed for fire protection. The Airbus A321, carrying 133 people, landed safely. Upon arrival, one passenger received medical attention, and four others sustained minor injuries. American Airlines thanked the crew for their professionalism. The article also notes that this is not an isolated incident: according to the FAA, 58 similar incidents involving lithium batteries, which can enter a state of "thermal runaway," have been recorded since the beginning of 2026.