The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a fresh safety alert to US airlines, highlighting the growing risks posed by lithium-ion batteries in passenger cabins. The alert warns that batteries stored in overhead bins or carry-on luggage may be difficult to monitor, potentially delaying detection of thermal runaway and firefighting efforts.
According to the FAA, standard Halon extinguishers can briefly suppress flames but do not halt the thermal runaway process. The primary response involves using large amounts of water to cool the battery and suppress flames. The alert follows 50 reported incidents this year of batteries emitting smoke, igniting, or overheating, leading to flight diversions and passenger injuries.
Notable incidents include a cell phone on an American Airlines flight from Dallas to Madrid that overheated, damaging the aircraft floor and injuring a passenger. Another involved a laptop emitting smoke on a flight from Chicago to Portland, Oregon, forcing a diversion to Casper, Wyoming.
In response, the FAA recommends airlines enhance risk mitigation strategies, including better communication about battery risks, improved firefighting procedures, and additional crew training. The agency has also proposed a $60,000 civil penalty against LG Energy Solution for shipping undeclared and improperly packaged lithium batteries from Seoul to Los Angeles in January 2024, which ignited at a FedEx facility.
Currently, Southwest Airlines is the only major US carrier requiring passengers to keep portable chargers and power banks visible when in use. Spare lithium batteries remain prohibited in checked luggage across most airlines.
