Quantcast

Passenger's phone emits smell on Hawaiian Airlines flight to Tokyo

Travelers are taking extreme measures and using hacks to avoid airline baggage fees
Pigeons Cause Chaos on Delta Flight
United Airlines’ Uniforms Get A Facelift—And A Political Filter
United Continues to Face Catering Chaos at San Francisco
Passenger Stows Away on Delta Flight from New York to Paris
Wizz Air becomes first airline to operate P&W-powered Airbus A321XLR jet
Hawaiian Airlines’ new ‘no show’ policy may make travel more expensive
BLIMP-SE OF THE FUTURE Luxury zeppelins of the future from ‘flying bum’ world’s largest aircraft to Google billionaire’s ‘impossible’ airship
Swiss Startup SmartFlyer Develops Hybrid-Electric Trainer
San Francisco-based entrepreneur takes a trip on India's worst-rated airline, his reaction will surprise you
First-Time Flyer at 81: A Grandmother's Memorable Journey
Ryanair forecasts fare rebound as consumers recover from interest-rate hit
Global Airlines Launches Inaugural Flight, Aiming to Revive 'Golden Age of Travel'
Winning routes: American Airlines adds more than 22,000 seats for football fans following release of 2025–2026 pro schedule
Boeing scores Middle East plane deal during Trump visit
Air travel will be ‘worse’ this summer, lawmakers warn — as FAA gives infuriating update on system fixes, staffing issues
Qatar Airways places record $96 billion Boeing order amid Trump visit
United Airlines CEO Reassures Passengers About Newark Airport Safety
American Testing Tech to Help Passengers Make Connecting Flights
British Airways to use AI in efforts to improve operations
American Airlines Tests New Tech to Help Passengers With Tight Connections During Summer Rush
Flight Diverted After Pregnant Woman on Board Goes into Labor and Delivers Her Baby: Report
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby says "this is the most optimistic I've been in my entire career about finally getting the FAA fixed"
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Unveils Plan to Build Brand New, State-of-the-Art Air Traffic Control System
Passenger rushing for next flight can't believe what woman next to her does
Why fuel price crash won’t make flying cheaper
Kristi Noem says travelers without Real ID will still be able to fly after deadline
Frontier Airlines Announces New Routes Launching This Summer, Connecting Baltimore With Chicago O’Hare and Trenton, N.J. With Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Airlines in North America prioritize investments in cyber, AI
The evolution of the airline uniform — a cross check
Passenger's phone emits smell on Hawaiian Airlines flight to Tokyo
Policy
Webp messenger creation 92cf6822 52ce 47a4 ad30 fdbd4971a5df
Hawaiian Airlines | Official Website

A Hawaiian Airlines flight from Honolulu to Tokyo experienced an incident before landing when a passenger's phone became lodged in a seat. The crew quickly contained the situation, ensuring the aircraft landed safely without needing an evacuation. However, the occurrence led to a delay in the return flight by several hours.

The incident took place on Hawaiian flight HA457, an international flight originating at the carrier's main hub, Honolulu International Airport, with its destination being Tokyo Haneda Airport. The flight departs daily, and on April 27th, it took off close to schedule, arriving in Tokyo 43 minutes ahead of time on April 28th. During descent, a phone reportedly caught fire in the cabin. Nonetheless, a Hawaiian Airlines spokesperson clarified to Simple Flying, "There was no fire," adding, "Prior to HA457 arriving at Haneda Airport [on] April 28th, crew members reported an electrical smell coming from a guest's mobile device that became lodged in a seat. Out of an abundance of caution, our crewmembers declared an emergency to obtain priority handling at the airport."

The aircraft was an Airbus A330-200 with registration N375HA, and it carried 140 passengers. Upon landing, the crew removed the mobile device from the seat. With an emergency declared, the crew received priority handling, simplifying the landing process on runway 34R at Tokyo Haneda Airport.

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

Fire and medical personnel met the flight at the gate, assisting as passengers and crew deplaned. The event resulted in the return flight from Tokyo to Honolulu being delayed.

Last year, a comparable situation occurred on another Hawaiian Airbus A330-200 flight from Honolulu to Portland International Airport. Instead of a phone, an iPad caused trouble by emitting smoke before landing. This incident followed the more significant concern about lithium-ion batteries on aircraft, heightened early this year after an Air Busan Airbus A321 faced destruction from a ground fire caused by such a battery issue. The event led airlines and regulators to update their policies regarding electronic devices on flights.

Organizations Included in this History
More News

Flying Food Group has announced the successful relaunch of SAS - Scandinavian Airlines flights after a 16-year hiatus.

May 30, 2025

Planning a vacation on a private jet involves more than just booking flights and accommodations.

May 30, 2025

Air India has announced an extension of its suspension of flights to and from Tel Aviv until June 19, 2025.

May 29, 2025

Ethiopian Airlines has announced a double bonus miles promotion for flights between Lagos and any of its destinations.

May 29, 2025

Copa Airlines announced it has resumed flights between Panama City and Caracas as of May 27, offering daily service with plans to increase to two daily flights starting June 23, 2025.

May 29, 2025

Hainan Airlines has announced a new direct international route between Jeddah and Haikou, marking its first connection between Saudi Arabia and China.

May 29, 2025