American Airlines passenger describes evacuation from smoky plane in San Francisco

American Airlines Flight Evacuated at San Francisco Airport Due to Laptop Fire

An American Airlines flight at San Francisco International Airport was evacuated after smoke was reported in the cabin while the plane was parked at its gate, according to airport officials. The airline confirmed that the smoke originated from a laptop in a passenger’s bag.

Passenger Jan Jankai, who was on the flight with his father, described a harrowing experience when they boarded the plane. He mentioned that the smell of burned cables permeated the air and soon escalated to a strong odor. Jankai reported seeing a large flame emanating from below his father’s seat, causing panic among passengers.

As the smoke intensified, Jankai and his father quickly unbuckled their seats and attempted to reach the back emergency exit. Jankai’s father, seated above the burning bag, took swift action by throwing it out of the emergency exit door.

During the evacuation, three individuals sustained minor injuries while exiting through the emergency slides, with one person being transported to a local hospital for further treatment. American Airlines acknowledged one passenger sustaining minor injuries while disembarking the aircraft.

The San Francisco Fire Department confirmed that the incident was caused by a battery fire, which had been extinguished before their arrival. Passengers evacuated using both emergency slides and the jet bridge.

The Airbus A321 was scheduled to depart for Miami at the time of the incident. The swift response from crew members and emergency services ensured the safety of all passengers and prevented a potentially catastrophic outcome.