Cabin crew have revealed the unsettling reason why passengers should never retrieve a phone that falls between seats on an aircraft. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), a dropped phone can become lodged in the seat's mechanical components. If the seat is then reclined or adjusted, the device may be crushed or damaged.
The primary danger lies in the lithium batteries inside the phone. If damaged, they can overheat and trigger thermal runaway, a chain reaction where batteries heat rapidly, emit flammable gases, and increase the risk of fire. John Cox, CEO of Safety Operating Systems and a former pilot, explained that damaged electronics are more susceptible to thermal runaway.
Passengers are advised to alert a cabin crew member immediately if they drop their phone. Flight attendants are trained on the operational intricacies of each seat and can safely retrieve the device. Notifying crew also allows them to initiate fire safety procedures if the phone begins to overheat or emit smoke.
There have been several incidents involving phones catching fire on flights. In 2024, a phone ignited a seat on a Denver to Houston flight, leading to the evacuation of 108 passengers. In 2025, a phone lodged between seats on a Honolulu to Tokyo flight caused an emergency landing at Haneda Airport. Earlier this year, a flight from Wichita to Seattle returned to the airport after a phone and portable battery pack caught fire.
Due to these risks, some airlines have banned power banks on flights. Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, and Emirates have implemented such bans, while Cathay Pacific did so in April. Taiwanese carriers EVA Air, UNI Air, and Tigerair now prohibit Bluetooth earbuds, including Apple AirPods, in checked luggage.
