Lithium Battery Fire Scorches Cabin of British Airways Flight Bound for Las Vegas

The Hill—A passenger's cellphone battery ignited mid-flight on a British Airways aircraft traveling from London to Las Vegas, scorching cabin panels and forcing crew to deploy fire suppression equipment. The plane landed safely at McCarran International Airport, where passengers were evacuated. Lithium battery fires on commercial flights have increased alongside the proliferation of high-capacity portable electronics.

• The Hill — Cellphone caught fire on British Airways flight to Las Vegas before landing
• New York Post — World — British Airways confirmed the incident involved a lithium battery on the London-Las Vegas route
• CBS News — cabin panels described as 'scorched'; fire suppression used before landing in Las Vegas