A Southwest Airlines flight, operating as Flight 3077, was forced to make an emergency landing at Reno-Tahoe International Airport on Wednesday night due to a laptop battery fire that ignited mid-flight.
Aircraft Makes Emergency Landing Due to Battery Fire
On 19 March 2025, a Boeing 737-800 passenger aircraft departed from Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) and safely landed at Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO) at approximately 22:05 local time. During the flight, a passenger’s laptop battery suddenly caught fire, prompting the crew to declare an emergency.
117 Passengers Safely Evacuated
Upon reaching the gate, cabin crew officials reported the fire and decided to evacuate passengers swiftly. All 117 passengers were safely removed from the aircraft using the front door and rear emergency slides. In a statement, a Southwest Airlines spokesperson said:
“All 117 passengers aboard Southwest Airlines Flight WN3077 were safely evacuated at Reno International Airport after a passenger’s laptop battery ignited during landing. Initial reports indicate that the passenger who owned the burning battery received treatment for minor burns, but no other injuries were reported during the evacuation.”
FAA Launches Investigation
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched a formal investigation into the cause of the fire and the details surrounding the incident. Following the event, the aircraft was taken out of service pending a thorough technical inspection.
Southwest Airlines officials emphasised that customer and staff safety remains the top priority and assured that all protocols were followed diligently.
Consecutive Incidents Involving Southwest Airlines
Only hours after this incident, another Southwest Airlines flight, Flight 3278, also faced a crisis. On the morning of 20 March, a flight preparing to depart from Orlando International Airport was halted on the taxiway by air traffic control just as it was about to take off. The FAA has also initiated a separate investigation into this incident.
