On a Southwest Airlines flight between Chicago, IL and Miami, FL on August 4, 2024, an issue was reported with a cell phone battery emitting smoke.
Southwest Airlines flight WN3204 was descending to its destination airport, Miami International Airport (MIA). During the initial descent, the flight crew noticed smoke coming from a cell phone in the cockpit.
Southwest WN3204 Chicago-Miami
The crew then decided to divert to the nearby Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) as a precautionary measure.
The flight then landed at the alternate airport without incident.
A subsequent report from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the flight’s safe landing at Palm Beach International Airport at around 6:00 p.m. local time.
The diversion incident was caused by smoke emitted from the cell phone battery. The incident will now be the subject of an FAA investigation.
Flight data
Flight data shows that flight WN3204 departed Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) on time at 2:24 p.m. local time.
The flight proceeded normally and climbed to FL360 (36,000 feet) for southern regional service to Florida.
The diversion to Palm Beach International Airport occurred when the aircraft was in the early stages of its descent to its scheduled destination.
The aircraft operating service WN3204 from Chicago was a Boeing 737 MAX 8 with registration N8889Q.
It is a 0.9-year-old narrow-body aircraft belonging to Southwest Airlines. It has been in service with the airline since its first delivery in December 2023.
A smoking cell phone battery is a serious problem that can lead to dangerous situations during the flight.
Battery problems:
Internal short circuit: This may be due to manufacturing defects, physical damage or internal wear and tear.
Overheating: Excessive heat can cause the battery to swell, which can result in internal damage and possibly burns.
Overload: Prolonged charging or using incompatible chargers may cause battery overheating and failure.
Physical damage: If the battery is dropped, punctured or crushed, its integrity may be compromised and smoke or fire may occur.
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