The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) is urging the public to thoroughly inspect their gadgets before plugging them into airport outlets following a burning charger incident at Dumaguete Airport on Sunday night.
In a report received by CAAP Area Center 7, a laptop emitted smoke while it was being charged at an electrical outlet in the departure area around 8:23 p.m. CAAP security personnel responded and used a fire extinguisher to put out the burning charger.
The fire was fully extinguished after around three minutes, but at least 160 air travelers were temporarily relocated to the ramp area due to a strong smoke smell in the area. The passengers were instructed to return to the pre-departure area at 8:40 p.m. and no flights have been affected.
The CAAP urges the public to be vigilant with their electronic gadgets at airports, ensuring they are properly inspected and in good condition. Electronics and gadgets like laptops, tablets, and cameras should also be placed in hand-carry baggage, and don’t bring firearms, and live and non-live bullets.
This serves as a reminder from airport and airline officials to air travelers to make their trips less stressful. To prevent incidents involving unauthorized electronic devices, local airlines implements strict guidelines and conducts regular fire drill training for flight crew.
