IN BRIEF: It appears my Twitter feed has been a flurry with this story, but I always love a story that screams “Apple hater”. The story: An iPhone 4 self-combusted during a Regional Express flight from Lismore to Sydney on Friday.
It was noticed by a flight attendant after it started emitting a significant amount of smoke, followed by a red glow. The flight attendant was able to extinguish it, and all passengers and on-air crew were not harmed. The phone has been handed over to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau for analysis. The airline has also notified the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
You can read the press statement below:
MEDIA RELEASE
MOBILE PHONE SELF COMBUSTIONRegional Express (Rex) flight ZL319 operating from Lismore to Sydney today had an occurrence after landing, when a passenger’s mobile phone started emitting a significant amount of dense smoke, accompanied by a red glow.
In accordance with company standard safety procedures, the Flight Attendant carried out recovery actions immediately and the red glow was extinguished successfully.
All passengers and crew on board were unharmed.
The matter has been reported to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) as well as the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) for investigation and directions.
The mobile phone in question appears to be an Apple iPhone (see picture below) and has been handed over to ATSB for analysis.Regional Express (Rex) is Australia’s largest independent regional airline operating a fleet of more than 40 Saab 340 aircraft on some 1,300 weekly flights to 36 destinations throughout New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Queensland. The Rex Group comprises Regional Express, air freight and charter operator Pel-Air Aviation and Dubbo-based regional airline Air Link, as well as the pilot academy Australian Airline Pilot Academy.
Source: The Register