Why a Midflight Plane Turned Around for a Lost Phone

Last week, an Air France flight heading to the Caribbean turned back to Paris due to a passenger who couldn’t find their mobile phone. The decision was made as a "precaution" to prevent potential risks associated with an unattended device possibly overheating. This marks the second time this month that such action has been taken for a Caribbean-bound Air France plane over concerns related to phones containing lithium-ion batteries. Airlines worldwide continue to address these fire hazards posed by electronic devices equipped with these types of batteries.

In the latest incident, both passengers and crew were unable to locate the mobile phone once the aircraft departed from Paris Orly Airport shortly after midday on March 21. The Boeing 777 performed a turn and made circles off the French coastline before returning to the same airport, as reported by the flight-tracking platform FlightAware.

The aircraft returned to its starting point just over two hours following departure, carrying 375 passengers, along with 12 cabin crew members and two pilots. Air France has not disclosed the specific location within the airplane from which the mobile device went missing nor where exactly it was eventually found.

Following inspections conducted by the maintenance crews, the equipment was located, enabling the plane to be airworthy once more," stated the airline anonymously. "Air France expresses regret over this circumstance and reaffirms that the safety of passengers and staff remains their topmost concern."

The plane made it to Guadeloupe, a French overseas territory, about four hours later than scheduled. In February, a flight from Charles de Gaulle in Paris to Martinique turned around after maintenance workers needed to retrieve a phone that had been dropped, the airline confirmed.

Air France's choice to redirect their aircraft has brought new focus to the topic of electronic use during flights, as airlines are increasingly enforcing rules regarding these devices because of safety worries linked to lithium-ion batteries.

‘Actually a hazard’

Travelers must ensure that their vape pens and extra lithium batteries, like those used in portable chargers, remain accessible in the cabin throughout the journey. according to The FAA states that these items cannot be placed inchecked luggage.

Hassan Shahidi, who serves as both the president and CEO of the company, Flight Safety Foundation He mentioned that it's uncommon for a phone not to be located on an airplane, but if one gets misplaced within a seat, it might pose risks. According to him, should the seat get adjusted with the phone lodged inside, it may exert pressure on the device potentially leading to overheating or even ignition.

Any pressure exerted on the phone when left unattended within the seat can be hazardous," he stated. "It becomes extremely challenging to access the area if it catches fire or begins emitting smoke.

He stated that Air France made the correct decision.

They simply did not want to risk it over water," explained Shahidi, with their nonprofit advocacy group stating they "aim to advocate for aviation safety.

The batteries have an increased tendency to catch fire when they are in use. damaged or charging As reported by The Washington Post, despite this, such occurrences remain infrequent. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, they recorded 85 instances of smoke, fire, or intense heat related to lithium batteries in aircraft last year. This accounts for approximately 16.4 million flights annually handled by them. according to its website.

International crackdown

At the start of this month, South Korea implemented new rules stating that travelers must keep their power banks or e-cigarette devices with them instead of storing them in overhead compartments. Additionally, using these battery packs to charge electronic devices during flights has been banned, as reported by various news sources including Reuters. reported Government officials have suggested that a power bank might be the reason behind the Air Busan fire in January, which led to an emergency evacuation and resulted in the destruction of the aircraft.

Numerous Asian airlines have imposed limitations on external chargers, as reported by CNN. reported .

American Airlines have likewise experienced electronic incidents. Earlier this month, a laptop battery ignited on a Southwest flight while it was parked on the ground in Reno, Nevada, as reported by various news sources; eyewitnesses described Exiting through an emergency slide. A comparable incident occurred on a Southwest flight in November following a cellphone battery issue. ignited on the ground in Denver.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, flight crews receive training to "identify and react" to fires resulting from lithium batteries in cabin areas.

The administration states, "If passengers notice their lithium battery or device becoming too hot, swelling up, emitting smoke, or catching fire, they must inform the flight crew at once," website .

Several airlines such as Delta and United inform travelers just prior to takeoff about notifying a flight attendant if a cell phone or another electronic gadget has gone missing between or beneath their seats. This advisory is provided "to ensure the well-being of our passengers and staff," according to an email from Delta representative Samantha Moore-Facteau.

Erin Jankowski, a representative for United Airlines, stated in an email that the company notifies travelers about potential risks of damaging their devices when adjusting their seats.

Shahidi from the Flight Safety Foundation mentioned that he has had to ask for assistance when his phone accidentally fell into the crevices of an airplane seat.

He stated that passengers ought to "be accountable" for their electronic gadgets, particularly power banks, ensuring these items are readily available and free from compression when being stowed away.

"He mentioned that they ought to properly maintain these devices to avoid causing unintended risks," he stated.