Power Bank Fire Forces Alaska Airlines Emergency Landing in Wichita

An Alaska Airlines flight operated by Horizon Air was forced to make an emergency landing after a passenger's power bank caught fire mid-flight, an incident that underscores the growing safety concerns surrounding lithium-ion batteries in aircraft cabins. The event on February 22, 2026, resulted in one passenger being hospitalized and caused significant delays.

The power bank explosion on the plane adds to a series of similar in-flight battery incidents, prompting airlines and regulators to re-evaluate policies for portable electronic devices. The primary risk involves thermal runaway, a chemical reaction where a battery cell overheats uncontrollably, often leading to fire and smoke. For airlines, these events present a significant cabin safety challenge that requires rapid and effective crew response to prevent escalation.

Flight AS2117 Incident Details

Alaska Airlines flight AS2117, an Embraer 175 aircraft, departed from Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT) with 76 passengers, bound for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). Approximately 15 minutes into the flight, a passenger's power bank reportedly exploded while on her lap. Witnesses described flames reaching nearly a foot high and smoke quickly filling the cabin.

A flight attendant successfully extinguished the fire using an on-board extinguisher. The aircraft immediately diverted and returned safely to Wichita. Upon landing, three people were evacuated, with the owner of the power bank transported to a local hospital for treatment of minor burns. According to an Alaska Airlines statement, the damaged power bank and phone were secured in a sealed bag before the aircraft landed. All affected passengers were accommodated on a later flight to Seattle.

A Pattern of In-Flight Battery Fires

The Alaska Airlines emergency landing is not an isolated event. Just one week prior, on February 15, 2026, a Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) flight experienced a similar emergency. The flight, an Airbus A320neo with 186 passengers traveling from Oslo to Tromsø, diverted to Trondheim after a passenger's lithium-ion power bank began smoking and overheating.

In the SAS incident, no passengers were injured, but five crew members were evaluated for smoke inhalation as a precautionary measure. These recurring thermal runaway events highlight a persistent vulnerability in cabin safety, as the proliferation of high-capacity personal electronic devices increases the statistical probability of battery failures on board.

Regulatory and Airline Responses

Global aviation authorities have established rules to mitigate the risks of lithium-ion batteries. A global standard requires that all spare batteries and power banks be transported in carry-on luggage, where a fire can be identified and addressed by cabin crew, rather than in checked baggage where it could go undetected.

In the United Kingdom, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) permits lithium-ion batteries with a capacity below 160 Watt-hours (Wh) in carry-on baggage, with a limit of two spare batteries per passenger. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has similar rules, as outlined in its Packsafe guidance for passengers, which generally allows batteries up to 100 Wh and requires airline approval for those between 101-160 Wh.

In response to the fire risk, a growing number of carriers have banned the in-flight use of power banks altogether. Airlines including Emirates, Qantas, and Virgin Atlantic now prohibit passengers from charging devices with external battery packs during flight. These policies represent a shift from passive carriage regulations to active restrictions on usage, aiming to prevent incidents before they start.

Why This Matters

This incident on Alaska Airlines flight AS2117 serves as a critical reminder of the inherent risks associated with lithium-ion batteries in the enclosed environment of an aircraft cabin. For the aviation industry, it reinforces the need for robust cabin crew training on fire suppression and clear, consistent passenger communication regarding device policies. The trend toward stricter airline-specific rules suggests that regulators may eventually consider more uniform global standards for the in-flight use of all portable electronic devices.

flying.flights provides comprehensive commercial aviation news covering airlines, aircraft, and airports. Discover how innovation is shaping aviation through aircraft systems, avionics, and digital tools at flying.flights/technology.