Spring-break-bound sophomore Anna Crail was watching a movie on Thursday when her iPhone spontaneously caught fire over the Pacific. "All of a sudden there was like 8-inch flames coming out of my phone," she told KOMO News. The teen panicked, telling KOMO that she thought the plane "was going down." "I flipped it off onto the ground, and it got under someone's seat, and the flames were just getting higher, and a bunch of people stood up," she said.
Considering that any device with a LiPo battery in it is potentially a bomb they really do need better procedures for dealing with these sorts of things.
RC groups have "LiPo Guard" bags or containers on hand in case of a fire: http://thedronegirl.com/2015/02/07/lipo-battery/ I've even seen some with a contraption you can throw your burning battery into to contain the fire.
Why aren't these mandatory on planes? Ash-trays are legally mandated, it's hilarious, but nothing for phones.
"At least three U.S. airlines are adding new fire-suppression equipment to fleets in case a cellphone or laptop battery overheats, catches on fire and can't be extinguished"
This is good since sometimes the plane's own batteries have caught on fire.
Having some kind of flame-proof, reinforced steel box they can drop dangerous devices in wouldn't be a bad idea either, as in the case of some idiot with shoe-bombs they could wrestle the device off the person and chuck it in there to be contained.
I think there's a market opportunity for a small, sturdy fireproof box that could prevent an exploding or spontaneously igniting smartphone from injuring someone or igniting objects nearby. And bonus points if the phone could still receive calls/texts and be charged while inside it.
Man leaves small metal object with volatile electrical connection in tightly enclosed space receiving direct sunlight on a hot day, blames metal object for ensuing damage.
Apple, FAA Investigating After iPhone Catches Fire Mid-Flight http://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/apple-faa-investigatin...
Spring-break-bound sophomore Anna Crail was watching a movie on Thursday when her iPhone spontaneously caught fire over the Pacific. "All of a sudden there was like 8-inch flames coming out of my phone," she told KOMO News. The teen panicked, telling KOMO that she thought the plane "was going down." "I flipped it off onto the ground, and it got under someone's seat, and the flames were just getting higher, and a bunch of people stood up," she said.