Southwest 737 Returns To Gate In El Paso After Phone Catches Fire

On May 1, 2025, a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700 aircraft headed for Houston Hobby Airport (HOU) from El Paso International Airport (ELP) did not take off as planned due to a rather bizarre incident. The airline’s jet was forced to return to the gate as one passenger’s cell phone unexpectedly caught fire as the aircraft was making its final preparations for departure, on what was otherwise an uneventful Wednesday morning.