A laptop caught fire on American Airlines Flight 2398 burning multiple passengers as they prepared to land at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. 

The plane, which took off from Atlanta,  had 133 individuals on board.

Some of the injured passengers reportedly suffered burns in their hands and another passenger received medical treatment and was later released by healthcare staff.

“I think we have about four to five passengers that were burned by the laptop,” CBS Texas cited the pilot as saying in an obtained audio recording. “The laptop is contained about mid-aircraft.”

“American Airlines flight 2398 landed safely at DFW after reports of smoke from a customer’s device during landing,” American Airlines said in a statement on the matter. “We thank our crew for their professionalism and swift response to quickly contain the device.”  

Federal Aviation Administration has cautioned that lithium batteries which are used in manufacturing gadgets like phones, laptops and powerbanks could overheat on an aircraft leading to thermal runway.

“Thermal runaway can occur without warning as a result of various factors, including if the battery is damaged, overheated, exposed to water, overcharged, or improperly packed,” the FAA said in an advisory in August.   

The lithium batteries used in devices such as laptops and cellphones can pose risks on flights due to overheating, according to the FAA, because of a process known as “thermal runaway.”

“All lithium-ion batteries are capable of overheating and undergoing a process called thermal runaway,” the FAA wrote on its website. “Thermal runaway can occur without warning as a result of various factors, including if the battery is damaged, overheated, exposed to water, overcharged, or improperly packed.”