Overview
- A passenger’s smartphone reportedly caught fire and emitted smoke while the plane was taxiing at Haneda Airport on a British Airways flight bound for London with 211 people on board.
- Cabin crew put out the device using an onboard fire extinguisher, the flight aborted its takeoff and the aircraft returned to the stand for safety checks.
- No injuries were reported and authorities confirmed the same aircraft was inspected and later cleared to depart without a change of plane.
- The Tokyo Airport Office and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism provided the official confirmations, and national media relayed the details.
- Investigators have not yet identified a definitive cause for the ignition, and the incident highlights risks from lithium‑battery devices and the role of standard onboard firefighting procedures.