An Alaska Airlines flight bound for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport returned safely to Wichita on Sunday after a passenger’s cell phone and portable power bank overheated and ignited mid-air, airline and airport officials confirmed.
Flight 2117, operated by Horizon Air on behalf of Alaska Airlines, departed Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport but diverted back to the gate shortly after takeoff when the device began to overheat in the passenger cabin. The aircraft involved was an Embraer 175 jet.
Crew members responded quickly to the incident. Flight attendants placed the affected phone and external battery into a containment bag designed to isolate overheated electronics, and the aircraft returned to the airport without further incident.
Airport emergency response personnel evaluated three individuals after the flight landed, and one person was transported to a local hospital for further treatment. Officials said no other serious injuries were reported.
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Alaska Airlines said it is working to re-accommodate passengers on alternate flights to Seattle. The airline and aviation authorities remind travelers that while portable lithium-ion batteries are permitted in cabins, they can pose risks if damaged or overheated and should be handled according to airline safety guidelines.
