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American Airlines evacuates plane at San Francisco Airport due to fire scare

American Airlines evacuates plane at San Francisco Airport due to fire scare Smoke in cabin prompts evacuation of American Airlines plane at San Francisco Airport; laptop battery overheating suspected (Reuters)
By Newsroom
Jul 13, 2024 5:03 PM

Panic ensued on an American Airlines plane at San Francisco International Airport in California when passengers were evacuated due to reports of smoke in the cabin. Airline officials attributed the incident to overheating in a passenger’s laptop battery.

Jan Jankai and his father, who were on the plane at the time, reported smelling something like burning wires upon boarding, which worsened over time. Jankai described seeing heavy smoke inside the cabin and flames coming from under a nearby seat, saying they felt close to passing out due to the dense smoke.

Emergency crews reported three minor injuries during the evacuation, with one individual transferred to a local hospital by the San Francisco Fire Department.

The airline stated that the fire had been extinguished before firefighters arrived and praised the crew for managing the emergency evacuation successfully.

Airport security assisted passengers after the incident, while American Airlines officials announced plans for a thorough investigation into the matter.

Last Updated:  Jul 13, 2024 5:03 PM