On Feb 22nd 2026, a Horizon Air Embraer ERJ-175, registration N641QX, operating on behalf of Alaska Airlines, returned to Wichita after a passenger’s power bank experienced a thermal runaway and caught fire during climb.
Flight AS-2117 had departed Wichita bound for Seattle and was climbing when the incident occurred. The crew stopped the ascent at FL200 as cabin crew responded to smoke and flames from the overheating lithium battery device. Flight attendants successfully doused and secured the power bank while the pilots coordinated a return to the departure airport.
The aircraft landed safely on runway 01L in Wichita approximately 40 minutes after takeoff. The passenger who owned the power bank was taken to a hospital with minor burns. No other injuries were reported.
A replacement ERJ-175, registration N652MK, was dispatched and completed the journey to Seattle, arriving with a delay of about 7.5 hours.
The occurrence aircraft remained on the ground in Wichita for about 20 hours before positioning to Portland, Oregon.
Thermal runaway events involving lithium-ion batteries can escalate rapidly, producing intense heat, flames, and smoke. Airlines train cabin crews extensively to manage such incidents using fire containment procedures and specialized equipment. In this case, the coordinated response in the cabin and cockpit ensured the situation remained contained and concluded safely on the ground.
