Narrative:

I received a cabin call from a flight attendant on the flight deck; whose urgency in her voice stressed that there is a lot of smoke in the cabin. I handed the phone to the captain; and told him what was just said. Since I was already leaving the flight deck to go on my scheduled break; the captain asked me to go and investigate what was going on and report to him. Once I entered the cabin; I could smell a strong smell of something burning and could see the smoke throughout the plane. I immediately called the captain and told him we have smoke; so he could prepare for this emergency. As I got closer to seat people were standing and the smoke was at its worse. The flight attendant who was working the emergency and a passenger said that they believed an ipad might be on fire under the reclined flatbed seat. I asked the flight attendants to turn on the cabin lights and for the flight attendant working the emergency to get me a flashlight. I started to pull the seat cushions off and was looking for a way to access below the reclined flatbed seat. No visible flames but a sizzling sound could be heard. I wasn't sure if it was the chair components or the claimed ipad. I couldn't see anything because it's extremely difficult to get under the flat seat. I was debating asking for the crash axe; but first decided to move the seat up. That's when I saw the top part of a crushed ipad smoking on the backside of the seat against the inner wall and track. I asked the flight attendant to get me the portable electronic devices (ped) fire bag. She returned quickly with the bag and fire gloves. A passenger held the flashlight for me as I retrieved the ipad. With the assistance of the flight attendant; we put it into the fire bag and secured it. We went back and examined the chair to see if anything else was burning. We saw no evidence and put the seat back together for the passenger. I called the captain and told him what happened; and that the situation was stable and that I will come up to the deck soon. The flight attendant used the fire bag from the flight deck; so she gave me the main cabin fire bag to use as a replacement. I informed the captain that there is still smoke in the cabin; and people are concerned about breathing. He said he will run the smoke removal procedures. With the situation stabilized; the captain told me to go on my break. When I returned from my rest; I found out that the captain went back to seat to examine the situation and to verify all was well.I am very concerned about these lie flat seats and the ability to get beneath them for this kind of emergency. This happened because the passenger fell asleep and her ipad fell between the wall and her now bed. Not knowing this; she wakes up; started to incline her seat; and ran over the ipad battery. I am unaware of any method to get below those seats nor did the flight attendant. I was barely able to get my arm down and below the chair. I received minor cuts and scratches on my arm; and was able to pull it out with three fingers while wearing the fire glove. I actually didn't think I could fit my hand with the glove on; so I initially tried it without them. The ipad was extremely hot and I couldn't do it. I believe not knowing or having access below the lie flat seat could be a serious problem. This needs to be reviewed and information provided to the crews. We were very lucky this didn't turn into a major cabin fire. After seeing how dangerous a burning ipad can be and the amount of smoke it creates; I would like to recommend more ped fire bags in the cabin and crew rest areas. With all the devices on board; I see this being the next major incident in aviation history.after reviewing the event with the captain; he brought up a very good question. Did anyone have an extinguisher on the ready? To my knowledge; no one did; and I didn't even think of it. Luckily; it wasn't needed.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Flight crew reported an in-flight battery smoke and fumes in the main cabin from a passenger iPad's; they contained the device; and continued to the destination.

Narrative: I received a cabin call from a Flight Attendant on the flight deck; whose urgency in her voice stressed that there is a lot of smoke in the cabin. I handed the phone to the Captain; and told him what was just said. Since I was already leaving the flight deck to go on my scheduled break; the Captain asked me to go and investigate what was going on and report to him. Once I entered the cabin; I could smell a strong smell of something burning and could see the smoke throughout the plane. I immediately called the Captain and told him we have smoke; so he could prepare for this emergency. As I got closer to seat people were standing and the smoke was at its worse. The Flight Attendant who was working the emergency and a passenger said that they believed an iPad might be on fire under the reclined flatbed seat. I asked the Flight Attendants to turn on the cabin lights and for the Flight Attendant working the emergency to get me a flashlight. I started to pull the seat cushions off and was looking for a way to access below the reclined flatbed seat. No visible flames but a sizzling sound could be heard. I wasn't sure if it was the chair components or the claimed iPad. I couldn't see anything because it's extremely difficult to get under the flat seat. I was debating asking for the crash axe; but first decided to move the seat up. That's when I saw the top part of a crushed iPad smoking on the backside of the seat against the inner wall and track. I asked the Flight Attendant to get me the Portable Electronic Devices (PED) Fire Bag. She returned quickly with the bag and fire gloves. A passenger held the flashlight for me as I retrieved the iPad. With the assistance of the Flight Attendant; we put it into the fire bag and secured it. We went back and examined the chair to see if anything else was burning. We saw no evidence and put the seat back together for the passenger. I called the Captain and told him what happened; and that the situation was stable and that I will come up to the deck soon. The Flight Attendant used the Fire Bag from the flight deck; so she gave me the main cabin Fire Bag to use as a replacement. I informed the Captain that there is still smoke in the cabin; and people are concerned about breathing. He said he will run the smoke removal procedures. With the situation stabilized; the Captain told me to go on my break. When I returned from my rest; I found out that the Captain went back to seat to examine the situation and to verify all was well.I am very concerned about these lie flat seats and the ability to get beneath them for this kind of emergency. This happened because the passenger fell asleep and her iPad fell between the wall and her now bed. Not knowing this; she wakes up; started to incline her seat; and ran over the iPad battery. I am unaware of any method to get below those seats nor did the Flight Attendant. I was barely able to get my arm down and below the chair. I received minor cuts and scratches on my arm; and was able to pull it out with three fingers while wearing the fire glove. I actually didn't think I could fit my hand with the glove on; so I initially tried it without them. The iPad was extremely hot and I couldn't do it. I believe not knowing or having access below the lie flat seat could be a serious problem. This needs to be reviewed and information provided to the crews. We were very lucky this didn't turn into a major cabin fire. After seeing how dangerous a burning iPad can be and the amount of smoke it creates; I would like to recommend more PED Fire Bags in the cabin and crew rest areas. With all the devices on board; I see this being the next major incident in aviation history.After reviewing the event with the Captain; he brought up a very good question. Did anyone have an extinguisher on the ready? To my knowledge; no one did; and I didn't even think of it. Luckily; it wasn't needed.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.