Probable cause
The passenger’s use of the evacuation slide resulted in the serious injury.
NTSB analysis
Even though an overheated passenger cell phone was put into a battery containment bag (BCB) by the cabin crew, a large amount of smoke remained in the cabin with a strong acrid smell. As a result, the captain commanded an evacuation on taxiway A spot 6A at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), Seattle Washington. One passenger broke their elbow while descending on the evacuation slide.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for DCA21LA208 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Aug 24, 2021
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Seatac, Washington
- Nearest airport
- Seattle-Tacoma Intl (SEA)
- Highest injury
- Serious
- Serious injuries
- 1
- Minor injuries
- 3
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Dusk
Boeing 737-990ER
- N-number
- N479AS
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 2015
- Operating rule
- Part 121 (airline)
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.