JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Passengers on a flight from Dallas to Orlando on Wednesday got a mid-air scare after a fire broke out.
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As the aircraft was closing in on its destination, those on board noticed smoke coming from an overhead compartment in the plane’s cabin.
Passenger Rocco Chierichella, a retired New York City firefighter, jumped into action to put out the fire.
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Another passenger, Darryl Smith, recounted how flight attendants also rushed to the back of the plane as it filled with white smoke.
Meantime, the pilots made a decision to divert the flight to Jacksonville International Airport for an emergency landing.
Video captured onboard shows Chierichella and other passengers trying to put out the fire.
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“I don’t want to sound like I’m trying to be a hero or anything,” Chierichella told Action News Jax, WFTV′s sister station in Jacksonville.
The former firefighter added, “Like I said, it’s just instinct. We are on a plane, I don’t know if there is water coming.”
He suffered some minor burns to his hand during the incident, but is grateful things ended the way they did.
“It’s blistering -- it’s a bunch of blisters on this finger, it will be fine. That we can recover from.”
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According to Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department, the fire started due to a battery in a passenger’s personal item.
Many passengers said they used Uber or buses to finally get to Orlando.
Spirit Airlines also provided transportation and vouchers to people on that flight.
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