Southwest Airlines Flight Evacuated After Phone Catches Fire, Passengers Criticized for Grabbing Luggage

A terrifying incident occurred at Denver International Airport when 108 passengers on a Southwest Airlines flight were forced to evacuate after a smartphone battery caught fire, igniting a seat. The Boeing 737-700 was about to take off when the fire started, triggering panic among the passengers.

A video circulating on social media showed the intense moments inside the plane, with cabin crew shouting, “Get out, get out now,” as passengers rushed to evacuate. Many were seen grabbing their luggage in their panic.

Thanks to quick action by the crew, the fire was extinguished, and no major injuries occurred. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Southwest Airlines confirmed that passengers seated at the rear of the plane exited via emergency slides, while those in the front used the jet bridge. One passenger sustained minor injuries, and the person whose phone caught fire was treated for burns. The flight continued after a three-hour delay, landing safely at William P. Hobby Airport in Houston.

In a separate incident, a Korean Air flight from Bangkok to Seoul had to manage an unruly passenger who tried to open the emergency exit mid-flight. The man, seated near the emergency exit, began acting erratically an hour into the flight. Despite his efforts to open the hatch, the crew intervened and restrained him. The flight continued safely to Seoul, where the man was handed over to authorities for further investigation. Korean Air confirmed that the situation was handled according to security protocols.