Mysterious Device Triggers Chaos on Phoenix-Bound Flight

On August 24, 2025, American Airlines flight 357, which was en route from Philadelphia to Phoenix, United States, made an unexpected diversion and landed at the Washington Dulles International Airport. The diversion was prompted by reports of a fire and smoke on board, allegedly originating from a passenger's mysterious device.

According to the reports, the American Airlines flight 357, with 160 passengers and 6 crew members on board, was forced to make the sudden landing at Dulles Airport after the crew members were alerted to the smoke coming from a passenger's device. The airline stated that the device was quickly contained by the crew prior to the safe landing of the aircraft.

While the authorities did not specify the type of device that caught fire, a fellow passenger on the flight described being awakened by the flight attendants "jumping on her seat" to grab a fire extinguisher and douse the flames. The passenger also reported smelling smoke and several people on the plane coughing.

The incident did not result in any arrests or injuries, and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority confirmed that there was no impact on the overall flight operations at Dulles International Airport. However, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is now investigating the matter to determine the exact cause of the smoke and fire on the American Airlines flight 357.