Spirit Airlines flight makes emergency landing due to battery fire in overhead bin
Ten people were hospitalized on Wednesday due to a fire in the cabin of a Spirit Airlines flight.
Flight 259 departed from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport around 2 p.m. EST and was headed to Orlando International Airport.
According to WTLV, the fire started in an overhead bin and smoke filled the cabin. At 3:53 p.m. EST, the flight was forced to make an emergency landing at Jacksonville International Airport. The fire was said to be ignited by the battery of a passenger’s “personal item.”
Kerri Arakawa was a passenger on the plane and witnessed when the fire possibly began. “I was right across from a luggage bin, and I saw smoke coming out of it and I wasn’t sure what it was. And then all of a sudden just a ton of smoke came out.”
She continued her statement in an interview with News4Jax, “There was a retired fireman that jumped up and a flight crew came in, and they tried putting water on it. ... And then another guy went and got a bucket, because I think the fireman reached in and grabbed it and they got it put out.”
The retired firefighter Rocco Chierichella spoke with the outlet about helping to ignite the flames.
“It was starting to drop altitude and somebody yelled, ‘fire.’ Smoke was billowing out of it,” said Chierichella, who added that he has burns on his fingers as a result of the fire. “And what it was, was a battery-powered vape tied to a battery charging inside the compartment. Very dangerous. And it ignited a piece of luggage next to it.”
The outlet reports the fire was extinguished while the plane was still in flight. It took over 20 minutes to put out.
Once the flight landed in Jacksonville, it taxied to the terminal as Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department personnel came aboard to clear the area.
JFRD reported that initially, one person was taken to the hospital. Ultimately, ten passengers were taken to a nearby hospital due to smoke inhalation.
Spirit Airlines provided the following statement to First Coast News:
“Spirit Airlines flight 259 from Dallas (DFW) to Orlando (MCO) diverted to Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) following what’s believed to be a battery fire from a Guest item in an overhead bin that was extinguished inflight. The plane landed at JAX and taxied to the terminal without incident. We thank our crew and Guests for their quick actions to ensure the safety of everyone onboard, and we thank first responders for meeting the aircraft. “
The FAA will investigate the fire.
Martie Bowser is a journalist and public relations professional in Charlotte, NC. She enjoys amplifying the voices of POC and women that fill a void within their community. Her bylines include “person of interest” interviews, small business highlights, pop culture commentary, entertainment features, and everything Beyonce.
This story was originally published March 3, 2023 at 8:50 AM with the headline "Spirit Airlines flight makes emergency landing due to battery fire in overhead bin."