A recent incident involving a Breeze Airways flight made headlines after a passenger's laptop caught fire, prompting an emergency diversion. The Airbus A220 was en route from Los Angeles to Pittsburgh when the incident occurred, leading to a diversion to Albuquerque. According to data from Flightradar24, the flight was approximately an hour into its journey when the cabin crew successfully extinguished the fire.
Fortunately, the incident resulted in only minor injuries to the laptop's owner, who was promptly treated by paramedics at the scene in Albuquerque. Reports suggest that the passenger was actively using the laptop at the time of the incident, rather than it being stored away.
Following the diversion, the 88 passengers on board were provided with accommodation in New Mexico before boarding a replacement flight the next morning. Both Breeze Airways and the Federal Aviation Administration have yet to issue official statements regarding the incident.
This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of adhering to regulations concerning electronic devices on flights, particularly those containing lithium ion or lithium metal batteries. The FAA emphasizes that such devices should be carried in carry-on luggage, as flight crews are trained to handle potential battery-related incidents in the cabin.
Furthermore, the Transportation Security Administration prohibits passengers from stowing spare lithium batteries in checked baggage, requiring items like power banks and cellphone charging cases to be carried in the cabin for safety reasons.
