American Airlines Flight 2398 landed safely at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport after a passenger’s laptop caught fire during the landing phase, leaving one person with minor burns. The Airbus A321 was operating from Atlanta to Dallas/Fort Worth on 21 August 2026 and was met by emergency responders after taxiing to the gate.
Crew members quickly contained the device as smoke spread in the cabin, and the passenger who needed medical attention was treated and released. Air traffic control audio initially suggested several passengers may have been burned, but the airline later confirmed only one person required care. The FAA is monitoring the case as part of its wider scrutiny of lithium-battery incidents on aircraft.
The event adds to continuing concern over overheating consumer electronics on board aircraft, particularly lithium-ion batteries in laptops and other portable devices. FAA guidance warns that batteries can overheat if damaged, exposed to heat or moisture, overcharged or packed improperly, and regulators have tracked dozens of such incidents this year. American Airlines credited its crew’s prompt response for bringing the situation under control before the aircraft reached the gate.