DALLAS- A Southwest Airlines (WN) flight bound for Houston (IAH) was forced to return to its gate at El Paso International Airport (ELP) after a passenger’s cellphone battery ignited during taxi.
The incident, classified as a “passenger disturbance” by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), occurred Wednesday morning as Flight WN2112 was preparing for departure. Crew members successfully extinguished the fire with no reported injuries.
Photo: Aero Icarus | FlickrSouthwest Passenger Phone Fire
What initially appeared to be a routine morning departure quickly turned chaotic when the battery inside a passenger’s cellphone caught fire as Southwest Airlines Flight 2112 moved down the tarmac at El Paso International Airport (ELP).
The aircraft, which had begun its taxi procedure around 7:50 a.m. local time on Wednesday, immediately returned to its gate, where passengers were able to disembark normally.
A Southwest Airlines spokesperson confirmed the incident in a statement to CBS News: “Southwest Airlines Flight 2112 returned to the gate at El Paso International Airport yesterday morning after the battery inside a passenger’s cell phone apparently ignited.”
The airline emphasized that their flight crew responded promptly to extinguish the fire, preventing any escalation of the dangerous situation.
Photo: By Eric Salard – N559WN LAX, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=44649799FAA Investigation Underway
The Federal Aviation Administration has officially launched an investigation into the incident, confirming to reporters on Thursday that they are working to determine exactly what caused the cellphone battery to ignite.
While the FAA has categorized the event as a “passenger disturbance” in their initial reporting, their investigation will likely focus on the specific circumstances surrounding the battery failure.
Southwest Airlines has stated that they are fully cooperating with federal and local agencies investigating the incident.
“Nothing is more important to Southwest than the Safety of our Customers and Employees,” the airline spokesperson emphasized in their statement to the press.
Passengers Rerouted to Houston
Following the incident, Southwest Airlines arranged for passengers to continue their journey to Houston on a different aircraft. The airline worked quickly to minimize disruption to travelers’ schedules while ensuring all safety protocols were followed in response to the fire.
It remains unclear whether additional federal agencies beyond the FAA will open investigations into the incident.
Battery fires, though rare, represent serious safety concerns for commercial aviation due to the difficulty of extinguishing lithium-ion battery fires and the toxic fumes they can produce in enclosed spaces.
Photo: TOMAS DEL CORO | FlickrSimilar Incident
A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 experienced an emergency evacuation on November 15, 2024, after a passenger’s cell phone battery ignited, causing a seat fire while the aircraft was still at the gate at Denver International Airport. The plane was preparing for departure to Houston with 108 passengers onboard when the incident occurred.
Passengers seated in the rear of the aircraft evacuated using emergency slides while those in the forward section exited through the jet bridge. Crew members successfully extinguished the fire that had spread to a seat.
One passenger suffered a minor injury during the evacuation process, according to preliminary reports. The passenger whose phone battery ignited received medical attention for burn injuries.
A Southwest spokesperson addressed the incident: “Southwest’s customer care team is working to accommodate the passengers on another aircraft to their original destination of Houston. Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of its customers and employees.”
Flight WN3316 eventually arrived at William P. Hobby Airport in Houston three hours behind schedule, according to flight tracking data from FlightAware. The aircraft involved was a 22-year-old Boeing 737-700, registered as N429WN.
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed it has launched an investigation into the incident. Southwest Airlines stated that the exact cause of the battery malfunction remains under investigation.
This incident highlights a growing safety concern across the aviation industry. The FAA has reported a 42% increase in lithium-ion battery fires on passenger planes over the past five years. Since 2021, at least one lithium-ion battery-related incident has occurred aboard a U.S. passenger plane every week.
In response to these risks, the FAA implemented regulations in 2020 prohibiting uninstalled lithium-ion batteries from checked luggage. Passengers must now keep these batteries in their carry-on bags to enable quick access during emergencies.
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