FORT MYERS, Fla. (WFLA) – A Delta flight at Fort Lauderdale made an emergency landing Monday after a passenger’s personal batteries set fire to the air during the flight and began filling the cabin with smoke.
Flight 1334 from Atlanta was not too far from its destination when the fire broke out.
The flight attendant quickly turned off the combustion device. This was a statement provided to NBC affiliate WBBH, which stated that it is considered a personal battery.
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The crew were forced to detour to Fort Myers’ southwestern Florida international airport due to prolonged smoke.
The pilot said on the radio: “Ok, um, my backpack is locked in. I think it was the lithium that caused the smoke and fire, um, I think it was the battery.
Officials said the plane safely landed at Fort Myers and no injuries were reported between 185 passengers and six crew members.
“We appreciate the prompt work and actions that people have in place to follow their training and apologise to our customers for delays in their trip,” a Delta spokesperson said in a statement.
The airline said it was working to help passengers reach their destinations as quickly as possible, following the appropriation. The Boeing 757-200 is no longer used for further testing.