An emergency evacuation was conducted on a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 at Denver International Airport after a phone battery ignited. The aircraft, preparing to depart for Houston, had its slides deployed due to the fire incident on November 15, 2024. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), "Passengers in the front half of the plane exited through the jet bridge. Passengers in the rear half of the plane exited using slides." One passenger sustained a minor injury during the evacuation, and another is being treated for burns.
The FAA will investigate this incident. Data from Flightradar24.com indicates that Southwest arrived three hours late at its destination.
On the same day, another Southwest flight encountered an issue when it was reportedly struck by gunfire while on the ground at Dallas Love Field Airport. A bullet hit near the cockpit of a Boeing 737-800 preparing for takeoff. The FAA stated, "While taxiing for takeoff at Dallas Love Field Airport, Southwest Airlines Flight 2494 was reportedly struck by gunfire near the cockpit around 8:30 p.m. local time on Friday, Nov. 15." Passengers were deplaned and accommodated on a replacement flight.