Calls for popular smartphone to be banned from planes after another device catches fire

Another Google Pixel 6a handset has reportedly burst into flames despite safety updates being rolled out earlier this month – and now calls are growing for the phones to be banned on planes before a serious disaster occurs.

The latest incident involved Reddit user "footymanageraddict", who said their Pixel 6a suddenly ignited while charging overnight on their nightstand.

The phone was connected to a Steam Deck charger with a 45W output when things went badly wrong.

According to the user, reported by HotHardware, the device made a loud popping noise and began to emit a strong burning smell before bursting into flames.

They managed to yank the phone onto the floor using its charging cable, but not before the fire spread to their bedsheets and caused heat damage to a nearby air-conditioning unit.

This isn’t the first report of Pixel 6a devices overheating and even catching fire. Product Safety Australia has already issued a warning about "serious burn injuries" linked to the phone’s battery, particularly in chalk, sage, or charcoal-coloured models sold between June 2022 and April 2025.

Google has responded to the issue by pushing out a mandatory software update on 8 July as part of its Android 16 rollout.

The patch limits charging performance on affected phones after they reach 400 charge cycles. A battery replacement programme and possible refunds or store credit are also being offered in some countries.

But with another phone going up in flames despite these measures, many users believe it’s time for more drastic action. In a thread on Reddit covering the latest incident, user dropthemagic said: "They should just do a recall at this point. Eventually one of these is going to catch on fire on a plane. It’s not worth the lawsuits. Just recall the damn phones."

Another commenter, xGuru37, drew parallels with Samsung’s infamous Note7 debacle: "Agreed. I remember airlines actually banning Note7 phones for the same reason."

Older person using smartphone on plane (Getty Images)

User Emerald_Flame even recalled how Samsung eventually rendered unsafe phones useless for safety reasons: "Samsung eventually pushed a firmware for them that literally stops them from charging. So for the people who didn't turn them in, if/when they got the firmware update, once the battery died and the phone turned off, that was it."

With more reports of overheating Pixel devices surfacing and international repair options limited in many regions, pressure is mounting on Google to take firmer action. As one user put it, the nightmare scenario of a Pixel 6a battery igniting mid-flight could be a matter of when, not if, unless the problem is properly addressed.