E-cigarette antennas fire on flights from Las Vegas to Chicago
January 5, 2019 – 5:52
An electronic cigarette caused a slight fire on an American Airlines flight from Las Vegas after the plane landed in Chicago on Friday night, the airline said. [19659004] Flight 168 left McCarran International Airport for Chicago Friday afternoon and shortly after landing a passenger's electronic cigarette overheated and causing a slight fire, US airline writer Leslie Scott said in an email dismissal.
The electronic cigarette was in the passenger's back when it overheated, Scott said. The airmen quickly extinguished the fire before the plane taxied to the gate.
None of the 138 passengers or six crew members were injured, Scott said. The crew was not based in Las Vegas.
"We are grateful for our refugees who quickly take up training to keep passengers safe," Scott said in the statement.
American Airlines reported the fire to the Federal Aviation Administration, which tracks "thermal events" when a battery overheats, she said.
Contact Katelyn Newberg at knewberg@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0240. Follow @k_newberg on Twitter.
