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

San Francisco: An American Airlines flight was evacuated at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) following an onboard fire that filled the cabin with smoke, causing significant alarm among passengers and crew.

American Airlines Flight 2045 was scheduled for an on-time departure to Miami (MIA) at 12:17 p.m. Pacific Time. As the aircraft began its pushback from the gate, smoke rapidly started filling the cabin, prompting the crew to issue a "mayday" call. The aircraft was Immediately evacuated.

Photos from the scene show the Airbus A321's middle two exit doors (L2/R2 and L3/R3) with their escape slides fully deployed, while the forward and aft exits remained closed. This was because the aircraft was still attached to the jet bridge, allowing many passengers to evacuate through it while others used the slides.

Cause of the Smoke

The source of the smoke was identified as a laptop in a passenger’s bag. A prompt response from the crew led to the removal of the bag from the aircraft, containing the situation.

Video from inside of the flight:

A video is circulating on social media in which a flight attendant can be seen shouting to the passengers to leave their bags and get off the plane fast. 

Jan Jankai, a passenger on the flight, recounted his experience to ABC News: "It smelled like burned cables when we boarded, and the smell got stronger. Soon after, we saw a huge flame from below my father’s seat." He added that the smoke was so intense they thought they might pass out. Jankai’s father, who was seated above the burning bag, threw it out of the emergency exit.

The San Francisco Fire Department (SFFD) responded quickly to the incident. Three people sustained minor injuries during the evacuation, with one transported to a local hospital. SFFD confirmed that the fire, caused by a laptop battery, was extinguished before their arrival.

American Airlines' Statement

American Airlines confirmed the incident and acknowledged the crew's professionalism. "All customers exited the aircraft safely," the airline said in a statement, thanking the crew for their prompt actions and apologizing to passengers for the inconvenience.

The Airbus A321, which was set to depart for Miami, will undergo a thorough inspection before being cleared for future flights.