Phone fire sparks chaos on Southwest flight before takeoff

The plane, flight number 3316 to Houston, was still at Denver International Airport when the incident occurred.

Just before takeoff, it was noticed that the cell phone of one of the passengers had caught fire. The fire quickly spread to the seat as well.

Passengers were immediately evacuated. Those sitting in the rear rows of the plane used the rear emergency slides, while those in the front exited through the front doors. The chaos that followed on the plane can be seen in recordings posted on social media, such as on the X platform.

Frightened passengers screamed and pushed each other. The sound of crying children could also be heard in the background. According to international media reports, two passengers sustained minor injuries.

Some also attempted to open the overhead bins to retrieve their bags and suitcases, despite the crew's reminders about the necessity of leaving carry-on baggage in case of evacuation. Remember, all passengers must leave their belongings behind in emergencies, as instructed in the safety briefing before every flight.

Fortunately, the small fire was quickly extinguished. Nevertheless, Southwest Airlines provided the travellers with another aircraft, which safely flew them to Houston.