A laptop caught fire inside the cabin of an American Airlines flight, with the pilot reporting that as many as five passengers suffered burns.
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The flight, carrying 133 passengers, suddenly descended into panic after the pilot reported a "cabin fire in the back of the airplane".
The frightening incident occurred on Friday evening as the aircraft traveled from Atlanta, Georgia, to Dallas, Texas.
American Airlines Flight Reports Cabin Fire
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport said medical staff treated one passenger from American Airlines Flight 2398 before allowing them to leave.
"American Airlines flight 2398 landed safely at DFW after reports of smoke from a customer's device during landing," the statement read. "We thank our crew for their professionalism and swift response to quickly contain the device."
The seriousness of the situation became clear in communications between the pilot and air traffic control.
"Cabin fire in the back of the airplane," the pilot said on air traffic control radio obtained by CBS News. "The flight attendants are trying to put it out now."
"I think we have about four to five passengers that were burned by the laptop. The laptop is contained about mid-aircraft."
Flight attendants reportedly rushed to extinguish the flames and bring the situation under control as the aircraft prepared to land.
Emergency crews were waiting on the ground when the plane touched down, with one passenger requiring medical attention.
FAA Investigating Laptop Battery Fire
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that the aircraft landed at around 6:55 p.m. "after the crew reported a laptop battery fire on board."
"Flight attendants contained the fire with a thermal containment bag," the agency added.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident. This is as they work to establish exactly what caused the device to catch fire.
According to the FAA, lithium batteries commonly found in electronic devices such as laptops and cellphones can pose a potential risk aboard aircraft if they overheat.
One particular danger comes from a process known as "thermal runaway," which can cause a battery to rapidly generate heat.
"Thermal runaway can occur without warning as a result of various factors, including if the battery is damaged, overheated, exposed to water, overcharged, or improperly packed," the FAA said.
Airlines therefore face restrictions surrounding the size and transportation of lithium batteries aboard aircraft.
The FAA has recorded 56 incidents involving lithium batteries on flights that resulted in smoke, fire or extreme heat.
