An American Airlines flight was diverted Saturday, Aug. 23, due to a “customer’s device” catching on fire inside the cabin, according to the airline.
AA flight 357 was about an hour into its approximately five-hour journey from Philadelphia International Airport to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport when it diverted to Washington Dulles International Airport “following reports of smoke from a customer’s device,” the airline told USA TODAY in a statement.
The airline did not specify what the device was, but added that crew members “quickly contained” the smoke before landing. Flight attendants are prepared for in-cabin fires, receiving intensive firefighting training during their certification process, Rich Henderson, a flight attendant at a major U.S. airline and one of the authors of the Two Guys on a Plane blog, previously told USA TODAY.
Lithium-ion batteries, such as those portable power banks, have been increasingly linked to onboard fires – there have been over 20 incidents on U.S. passenger flights in 2025 so far, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Due to these hazards, some airlines such as Southwest Airlines have introduced policies that require passengers to keep portable chargers visible. Other electronic devices, like phones, can also lead to fires if it falls in between the seats and its battery is somehow punctured.
A passenger who was seated in the exit row told ABC News she woke up when a flight attendant jumped on her seat to retrieve the fire extinguisher. “Then I started smelling smoke, and a lot of people on the plane were coughing,” the passenger told the media outlet. “But I looked behind me, and what we could tell was that there was something on fire in the aisle.”
The Airbus A321, which was carrying 160 passengers and six crew members, landed safely in Washington, D.C. at around 11:52 a.m., according to FlightAware. Emergency personnel met the aircraft upon arrival out of procedure.
There were no injuries reported, and passengers were accommodated on alternative flights. “We apologize to our customers for the inconvenience this caused and thank our crew for their professionalism,” said American Airlines.

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