Source: www.jetlinemarvel.net

A business class passenger’s phone caught fire after becoming squashed in their reclining seat, forcing a British Airways flight from Japan headed for London to make an emergency landing in Alaska.

Three hours after takeoff from Tokyo, the Boeing 787 carrying more than 200 passengers was headed to Toronto, Canada, when the incident occurred. The crew had warned passengers not to try to pick up any dropped phones in the recliner seats before takeoff, but they had disregarded their advice.

The pilot decided to divert the trip to Alaska when crew members noticed smoke coming from the smouldering phone in the Club World cabin. In the language of aviation, a Pan Pan call, which stands for “Possible Assistance Needed,” indicates an emergency that is not life-threatening.

A portable gadget that became lodged down the side of a passenger seat caused smoke to enter the airplane, according to a report from the Canadian Transportation Safety Board. Following the event, officials in charge of aviation safety demanded that seat designs be changed or that procedures be strengthened in order to lower the possibility of phone fires.

A British Airways spokesperson verified the occurrence and stated that neither the crew members nor the passengers were in any danger as a result of the fiery incident.