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United StatesCulture5 days ago

Cellphone fire on flight "scorched" cabin before landing in Las Vegas

A cellphone caught fire on a British Airways flight from London to Las Vegas, causing smoke in the cabin. The pilot reported the fire to air traffic control, stating it 'scorched the inside of the cabin,' but the plane landed safely without declaring an emergency. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed it would investigate the incident. The article notes that lithium batteries in electronic devices pose a fire risk and references recent regulatory actions by airlines regarding portable chargers.

By

June 15, 2026 / 8:00 PM EDT

/ CBS News

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A cellphone caught fire on a British Airways flight from London to Las Vegas on Monday, the airline said.

The Federal Aviation Administration said British Airways Flight 271 landed safely at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas after the crew reported a cellphone fire on board. The pilot can be heard on air traffic control audio saying the mobile phone fire "scorched the inside of the cabin," but that it was under control.

The Las Vegas airport confirmed the pilot called an alert, but a British Airways spokesperson told CBS News the aircraft arrived as scheduled and did not declare an emergency.

It was unclear what type of cellphone caused the fire.

The FAA said it will investigate the incident.

Electronic devices like cellphones, laptops, and other portable  rechargeable electronic devices  carry fire risk due to  lithium batteries , which can short circuit. Passengers can only carry certain lithium batteries on planes and cannot check them into the cargo hold, according to FAA and airline regulations .

In April, American Airlines tightened restrictions on portable chargers that passengers can bring on flights.

Nearly 100 battery fire incidents occurred in 2025, mostly involving battery packs and vape devices, according to FAA data.

Megan Cerullo

contributed to this report.

In:

Lithium-Ion Batteries

Read the full article at CBS News (US) →
Source document: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

1 reports

CBS News (US)IndependentCenter5 days ago
Cellphone fire on flight "scorched" cabin before landing in Las Vegas

A cellphone caught fire on a British Airways flight from London to Las Vegas, causing smoke in the cabin. The pilot reported the fire to air traffic control, stating it 'scorched the inside of the cabin,' but the plane landed safely without declaring an emergency. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed it would investigate the incident. The article notes that lithium batteries in electronic devices pose a fire risk and references recent regulatory actions by airlines regarding portable chargers.

Bias read (Center): The article provides a factual account of the event with no apparent ideological framing. It includes quotes from officials, mentions the FAA's involvement, and provides general information about lithium battery risks without taking a stance or emphasizing any particular perspective.

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