Mobile phone catches fire on Jet Airways flight

Delhi - It was identified as a Samsung J7 handset

It was a close call for nearly 120 people on board a Jet Airways flight when the mobile phone of one of the passengers caught fire mid-air. 
The Delhi-Indore Jet Airways flight landed safely after the crew put the device in water, said a Hindustan Times report.
The scare started about 15 minutes after the flight took off when Arpita Dhal, a Delhi resident, noticed smoke coming out of her handbag kept under the seat. Arpita was carrying the handset in her handbag, along with two other cellphones in it. 
The crew was immediately called to extinguish the fire even as the passengers got panicky.
"It was a mid-air panic. We prayed to god," Atul, Arpita's husband who was with her, was quoted as saying in the report. The fire extinguishers on board did not work, he added.

"I will complain against Jet Airways. This is a question of safety of passengers in flights. If there is a major fire or blast what will they do when their fire extinguishers don't work like this," Atul said.
The crew had to put the phone in a tray of water to put out the fire, he pointed out.
While confirming the incident, a Jet Airways spokesperson said it was resolved "as per guidelines".
According to the spokesperson, "It was observed on board Jet Airways' flight 9W 791 Delhi-Indore that smoke was emitting from a guest handbag. Jet Airways crew immediately took charge of the situation, as also all necessary steps as precautionary measure, and as per the prescribed guidelines."
The phone which caught fire was identified as a Samsung J7.
"We are in touch with relevant authorities for more information. At Samsung, customer safety is top priority," a Samsung India spokesperson was quoted as saying to the daily.
A Jet Airways spokesperson in Delhi said the device had been confiscated and would be returned after a probe.

• India