Press Release: Southwest Airlines Passengers Evacuated After Cell Phone Fire
Denver, CO – A frightening incident occurred on Friday morning at Denver International Airport when a cellphone battery caught fire aboard Southwest Airlines Flight 3316, which was preparing for takeoff to Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport. The emergency unfolded in Concourse C, causing panic among the 108 passengers onboard.
As smoke filled the cabin and fire erupted from the burning Samsung phone, chaos ensued. Jennifer Rodgers, a passenger on the flight, recounted the harrowing moments: “Everybody saw the smoke… and then somebody screamed ‘Fire.’” The only injury reported was to the phone owner, whose hand suffered burns.
Passengers quickly evacuated the plane, utilizing emergency slides to reach safety on the tarmac. The urgent command to “Cross your arms jump” is one that many will not soon forget. Also present was Seth Anderson, who noted the rapid progression of smoke and fire: “There was a pause, and then again ‘Fire! Fire!’”
Despite the confusion, the flight crew managed to keep passengers as calm as possible amidst the chaos. The rear emergency chute was deployed while a jet bridge was slowly returned to the front of the aircraft, taking time amid the urgency of the situation. Many, like passenger Jaquetta Anderson, expressed concern for their belongings; she refused to leave behind her two dogs.
Fortunately, the flight had already experienced a delay before takeoff due to technical issues, a fact that passengers like Seth Anderson felt prevented further catastrophe. “That little delay… helped us keep on the ground while that was happening,” he remarked. The quick actions of the crew and timely responses ensured the incident concluded without a major disaster. Authorities will continue to investigate the cause of the fire.
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