Photo: Eliyahu Parypa / iStock Editorial / Getty Images
Fort Myers, FL - A Delta Air Lines flight headed to Fort Lauderdale was forced to make an emergency landing Monday morning after smoke from a passenger’s personal battery device was detected onboard.
Delta Flight 1334 departed Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport just after 7 a.m. en route to Fort Lauderdale when flight attendants noticed smoke coming from what was allegedly a lithium-ion battery.
The flight crew declared an emergency, and the cabin crew quickly acted to extinguish the device and contain it using the aircraft’s fire safety equipment.
The Boeing 757 landed safely at Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers around 8:48 a.m.
All 185 passengers and six crew members on board were unharmed, and no injuries were reported.
After an inspection and some delays, the flight continued to Fort Lauderdale later in the afternoon.
A Delta spokesperson commended the crew for their fast response, stating that flight attendants followed protocol and pilots acted swiftly to divert the aircraft.
The airline apologized to customers for the delay and praised the crew’s professionalism under pressure.
The FAA has confirmed the incident and is investigating.
While most lithium-ion batteries are permitted in carry-on bags, spare batteries are prohibited in checked luggage due to their fire risk.
Aircraft are equipped with fire containment bags designed to isolate overheating or burning devices midflight.
This incident adds to a growing number of battery-related emergencies on U.S. flights.
Officials continue to urge passengers to follow federal battery transport rules, especially as battery-related incidents on airplanes rise across the industry.