A flight attendant has disclosed a concerning reason why you should avoid retrieving your phone if it slips between the aircraft seats.
It’s common to accidentally drop your phone while on a flight, whether due to adjusting your position, getting up to use the restroom, or searching in your bag beneath the front seat. Despite the instinct to pick it up immediately, experts caution that this action could pose risks.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), if a smartphone falls between the seats, it might become lodged in the seat’s mechanical components. Subsequently, if the seat is moved or reclined with the phone stuck, there is a possibility of it being crushed or damaged.
Though it may inconvenience passengers if their phones are harmed, there is a potential danger that the lithium batteries inside could overheat. This scenario could lead to a rapid increase in battery temperature, release of flammable gases, and an elevated fire hazard.
In the event of dropping your phone between the seats, it is advisable to promptly inform a cabin crew member. They are familiar with the aircraft’s seating arrangement and can safely retrieve the phone before it becomes a safety issue.
“Flight attendants receive training on the operational details of each seat that passengers may not be aware of, enabling them to assist customers in case of a phone drop incident,” as stated by an American Airlines representative to Afar magazine.
John Cox, CEO of Safety Operating Systems and a former pilot, highlighted that damaged electronics are more prone to thermal issues, increasing the risk of a possible thermal event with a dropped iPhone or Android device.
Additionally, it is crucial for cabin crew to be alerted about the dropped phone as they can prepare necessary safety measures if the device starts overheating or emitting smoke. While self-retrieval may seem easy, the potential risks to oneself or others on board outweigh the convenience.
Seeking help from a flight attendant for a dropped phone also minimizes the risk of passengers injuring themselves, potentially by trapping a finger.
The concern of an overheated smartphone is why items like power banks, e-cigarettes, and other electronics are restricted from checked baggage. Keeping them in your carry-on allows for close monitoring in case of safety issues.
Incidents of devices catching fire during flights have been reported, such as a phone igniting a seat on a flight from Denver to Houston in 2024, leading to passenger evacuation, and a phone emitting a burning smell on a flight from Honolulu to Tokyo in 2025, prompting an emergency landing.
Several airlines have prohibited power banks on flights due to fire hazard fears, with some now extending the ban to Bluetooth earbuds like Apple AirPods. American Airlines was approached for further comment on the matter.