Rare instance of hazardous iPhone defect

An iPhone recently caught fire onboard a Regional Express jet in Australia, a press release from the carrier reveals. The plane had just landed after a flight from Lismore to Sydney when the airline says that a passenger's iPhone began "emitting a significant amount of dense smoke, accompanied by a red glow." A photo of the phone's back shows extensive damage, including a missing chunk and cracks throughout the glass.

"In accordance with company standard safety procedures, the flight attendant carried out recovery actions immediately and the red glow was extinguished successfully," reads Regional Express' statement. No one was harmed when the phone ignited.

The fire would appear to be a rare example of a battery defect linked to the iPhone. Much more widespread were incidents with the first-generation iPod nano, ultimately forcing Apple to take action in Japan and later in other countries. Affected Nano owners should already be getting replacement units in many cases.

by MacNN Staff