The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has issued a warning to airline travellers to take care when flying with mobile phones or other electronic devices.
The warning follows an incident on a recent flight where a mobile phone overheated after being crushed in a seat mechanism.
According to CASA, the aircraft’s cabin crew extinguished the phone and the flight landed safely in Melbourne.
Spokesperson for CASA, Peter Gibson said passengers must follow instructions about dropped or missing phones and electronic devices on aircraft.
“Never try and retrieve the phone or device if it is anywhere near a seat mechanism,” Mr Gibson said.
“Most importantly never move your seat if the phone or device is missing.”
He said that passengers who had lost their mobile devices should call for the cabin crew to help find and retrieve the phone or device safely.
“Lithium batteries can overheat very quickly if damaged and this can cause a fire,” Mr Gibson said.
“The cabin crew is trained in dealing with these issues, so rely on their expertise.”
He said passengers should also listen to the pre-flight briefing which in part dealt with this issue and follow all safety instructions at all times.
The Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association said it supported precautionary airline policies regarding the placement and use of mobile devices during flights.
