JetBlue crew praised for putting out cellphone fire on flight from Los Angeles to Boston
BOSTON - There was a scare on a JetBlue flight from Los Angeles to Boston Tuesday morning when smoke from a cellphone fire started filling up the plane's cabin.
JetBlue cellphone fire
JetBlue flight 988 was approaching Logan Airport when, the airline said, "a customer's mobile phone malfunctioned and created smoke in the cabin."
Laura Benson of Brockton, Massachusetts was a passenger on the flight. She told WBZ-TV she was a few seats back from first-class where she saw smoke from the electrical fire.
"Really harsh smell"
"I saw really thick, heavy smoke billowing out of the seat area," Benson said. "You smelled the plastic first, like a really harsh smell, and then the cabin just filled up with smoke and you saw the crew go right into action."
"Crewmembers addressed the situation consistent with their training. The flight landed safely, and no injuries or aircraft damage were reported," JetBlue said in a statement.
Benson said the crew quickly removed two passengers from the area.
"They went and they got the fire extinguisher, made sure that everyone was safe and out of the seat and that they were actually safely put into other seats, and then they announced that they were putting the air on to get the air cleared up because at that point your eyes started hurting," Benson said. "I believe they moved the phone into the bathroom and closed the bathroom doors."
JetBlue crew praised
Benson was impressed by the crew's quick reaction because she said it could've been worse.
"There was a clap at the end and we just said thank you," she said.
"JetBlue will work with relevant agencies to complete an investigation of this incident," the airline said.
Back in 2019, a Virgin Atlantic flight made an emergency landing at Logan Airport when a cell phone battery pack set a seat cushion on fire.
Some airlines have been looking into adding fire containment bags for electronic fires on flights. The bag suppresses and contains the smoke and flames.