Plain English Meaning

A fire that breaks out inside the part of the airplane where the people are sitting. It is one of the most serious in-flight emergencies because the smoke and flames are right there with the pilot, and the airplane needs to be on the ground as soon as safely possible.

Full Definition

An in-flight fire that originates inside the occupied area of the airplane — the cockpit or passenger cabin — typically caused by faulty wiring behind panels, failed electrical components, overheated personal electronics (such as lithium battery devices), or careless smoking. A cabin fire is treated as an immediate emergency requiring isolation of the source, use of an onboard fire extinguisher, cabin ventilation as appropriate, and a prompt .