Anthony Yates
Passengers on board an American Airlines plane had a nasty shock when a fire broke out in the cabin, forcing the aircraft to divert.
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According to a report by ABC News, American Airlines Flight 357 took off from Philadelphia en route to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on Saturday. However, the plane was forced to divert to Dulles International Airport in Washington instead.
Per WUSA9, a fire in the customer rows prompted the diversion. The outlet cites a statement by American Airlines, which reportedly blames the fire on a “customer’s device.” However, WUSA9 notes that they declined to reveal what the device was. A spokesperson for the airline reportedly said, “The device was quickly contained by crew members prior to landing.”
ABC News reports that emergency services met the aircraft on the runway when it touched down at around 11:50 AM. The outlet interviewed a passenger, Adriana Novello, who allegedly explained they were sleeping at the time. A flight attendant woke her, jumping on her seat to grab a fire extinguisher. “Then I started smelling smoke, and a lot of people on the plane were coughing. But I looked behind me, and what we could tell was that there was something on fire in the aisle,” Novello said.
The American Airlines Plane Was Carrying 160 Passengers At The Time
FOX News explains that Flight 357 was carrying 160 passengers and six crew members. Officials reported no injuries or arrests. A spokesperson also confirmed to the outlet that passengers and staff “deplaned normally.” Per The Independent, American Airlines said it had booked the affected passengers onto alternative flights. The FAA is now investigating the incident.
Earlier this month, passengers on a Delta Airlines flight noticed a panel on the wing appearing to come loose mid-flight. The damage looked worse as the aircraft hit the runway, and one passenger said they worried it would come loose and hit the tail.
Delta Airlines addressed the situation in a statement, confirming officials took the plane out of service for maintenance. “We apologize to our customers for their experience, as nothing is more important than the safety of our people and customers,” they reportedly said.
