Cellphone caught fire on British Airways flight to Las Vegas before landing

A British Airways flight bound for Las Vegas is under FAA investigation after a cellphone reportedly caught fire just before landing. Flight 271, traveling from London to Las Vegas, reported the fire to air traffic control as it approached the destination; the pilot said the device scorched the cabin interior, but the situation was controlled and the plane landed at Harry Reid International Airport on schedule. The airline stated no emergency was declared and it is not yet known what type of cellphone caused the fire. The incident adds to ongoing concerns about lithium batteries on aircraft, with FAA data showing 97 reported lithium battery fires in 2025, often linked to vaporizers or portable chargers, prompting some airlines to tighten device restrictions.