Southwest Airlines diverts flight after passenger's charger overheats mid-air

The crew of a Southwest Airlines flight decided to divert to Myrtle Beach after a passenger's battery charger overheated and began emitting smoke, as reported by The Aviation Herald. The Boeing 737-700, with registration N7713A and operating as flight WN-1844, was en route from Baltimore to Tampa, Florida.

The incident occurred when the aircraft was cruising at FL400, approximately 80 nautical miles southeast of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. After about 20 minutes, the plane landed safely on runway 36 in Myrtle Beach. Following a delay of four and a half hours, a replacement Boeing 737 MAX 8 completed the journey to Tampa. Sixteen hours later, the original aircraft resumed operation.

Southwest Airlines has adjusted its policy requiring passengers to keep power banks and portable charging devices visible while onboard. This change aims to facilitate quicker assistance in case of device malfunctions. Of the nine lithium battery-related incidents documented by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) this year, only one involved a battery pack. However, such packs have been responsible for most events over the past two decades.