Fire Breaks Out Mid-Flight, as Passenger’s Device Catches Fire

An American Airlines plane heading to Phoenix was forced to divert after reports of a fire mid-flight.

On Saturday, Aug. 23, American Airlines flight 357 had departed from Philadelphia for Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport when a passenger’s device was seen smoking, WUSA and ABC News reported.

Having been diverted to Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia, the 160 passengers and six crew members on board “landed safely” at around 11:50 a.m. local time, per the outlets.

 Emergency personnel reported to the aircraft after landing. The type of device and reason for smoking have not yet been disclosed.

“The device was quickly contained by crew members prior to landing,” an American Airlines spokesperson said in a statement, per ABC News.

American Airlines did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for additional information on Sunday, Aug. 24.

Passenger Adriana Novello, 22, told ABC News that she was asleep in her exit row seat when she was awakened to one of the flight attendants reaching over her for the fire extinguisher.

“Then I started smelling smoke, and a lot of people on the plane were coughing,” she said. “But I looked behind me, and what we could tell was that there was something on fire in the aisle.”

An airline spokesperson told Fox News that the passengers and crew onboard the aircraft deplaned normally. The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority added that the incident did not impact flight operations at the airport.

No arrests or injuries were disclosed, according to the outlet.

FlightAware shows that the flight had departed Philadelphia around 10:50 a.m. local time. Due to the diversion, passengers were booked onto alternative flights, The Independent reported, citing American Airlines.

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The incident comes almost a month after American Airlines passengers at Denver International Airport were forced to evacuate a plane when the landing gear caught fire shortly before takeoff.

The flight was set to depart for Miami International Airport on July 26 when it encountered “a mechanical issue involving an aircraft tyre and flames” on the aircraft, the airline said in a statement to PEOPLE.

“All customers and crew deplaned safely, and the aircraft was taken out of service to be inspected by our maintenance team,” the airline continued.

There were 173 passengers and six crew members on board the aircraft when the incident occurred. One passenger was transported to the hospital with a minor injury, American Airlines confirmed to PEOPLE.