Delta Air Lines is adding fire containment bags to planes, starting with planes that fly overseas flights.
Atlanta-based Delta plans to install the bags on 166 planes by the end of the year, then add them to other aircraft starting in 2017.
Alaska Airlines has added to its fleet similar bags, which are made of a fire-resistant material and are designed to hold mobile phones or laptops that catch fire. A flight attendant would use heat-resistant gloves to put the device in the bag to extinguish flames, and zip it shut to contain any heat and flames.
The risk of fires in airplane cabins has gained attention with incidents involving the Samsung Galaxy Note 7.
Credit: Kelly Yamanouchi
Credit: Kelly Yamanouchi
Delta said its gradual installation plan of the fire containment bags is "the best possible speed" given the supply, maintenance program changes and training of crew members needed.
The airline said it also has fire extinguishers in airplane cabins, and has long had fire detection and suppression systems in cargo holds.
