Alaska Airlines Plane Diverts to Buffalo due to Smoking Credit-Card Reader

Alaska Airlines flight 17 had to divert and make an emergency landing at Buffalo Niagara International Airport, New York, on October 12,

The plane, en-route from Newark, New Jersey to Seattle, Washington, was diverted after the crew reported smoke coming out of a credit card reader. According to airline spokesperson Halley Knigge, apparently the smoke was caused due to a melting battery. “The flight crew used a fire extinguisher to stop the device from smoking while the captain made flight emergency arrangements,” she said.

The plane landed safely. There were 181 passengers and 6 crew members aboard at the time; none of them were harmed.