Chaos as Passenger’s Phone and Power Bank Catch Fire Mid-Flight

A routine flight turned chaotic when a passenger’s phone and portable battery pack suddenly burst into flames midair, forcing an Alaska Airlines plane to make an emergency landing.

The scare unfolded Sunday, Feb. 22, aboard Alaska Airlines Flight 2117, operated by Horizon Air. The Embraer 175 jet had just departed Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport and was headed to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport when the fire broke out.

Passengers say the plane had been in the air for only about 15 minutes.

Leana Stickler, who was seated next to the woman involved, told local outlet KAKE that the passenger was using a lithium-ion power bank to charge her phone when it suddenly ignited.

“I was right next to her, and it was just sitting in her lap, not being played with, not being touched, and it exploded,” Stickler said.

She described flames shooting up about a foot high. The fire reportedly burned the woman’s arms and legs before she threw the device into the aisle.

“Somebody threw a towel on it, and I hit it with my shoe,” Stickler added.

Another passenger, Tracy Soom, said the smoke quickly filled the cabin.

“The flight attendants came running back with a fire extinguisher and put it out,” Soom said. “The smoke was so bad I couldn’t breathe.”

In a statement, the Wichita Airport Authority confirmed that “a passenger’s external battery caught fire mid-flight.” The aircraft returned safely to Wichita, where emergency crews evaluated three people. One person was transported to a local hospital for further treatment.

Alaska Airlines confirmed the passenger with the overheated devices received medical care at the gate. The airline said the phone and power bank were placed in a containment bag as the aircraft prepared to land.

Passengers were later rebooked and eventually arrived in Seattle on another flight.

Lithium battery fires on planes are rare but rising. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, there were 95 verified lithium battery incidents involving smoke, fire or extreme heat in 2025 — up from 89 the previous year. As of mid-February 2026, five incidents have already been reported.

The FAA warns that lithium-ion batteries — including those in phones, laptops and portable chargers — can undergo “thermal runaway,” a dangerous chain reaction that can cause fires or explosions without warning. That’s why spare lithium batteries are required to be stored in carry-on bags, not checked luggage.