- The FAA issued a safety alert about carrying lithium batteries on airplanes.
- Cell phones, laptops and other electronic devices use lithium batteries.
- There have been 50 lithium-ion battery smoke, fire or extreme heat incidents this year.
The Federal Aviation Administration has issued a safety alert warning airlines of the risks of passengers and crew members carrying lithium batteries on board.
Cell phones, laptops, portable power banks, e-cigarettes and hearing aids are among the many electronic devices with batteries that could malfunction, creating a “thermal runaway” and igniting a fire.
“Lithium batteries (including power banks and portable chargers) can act as ignition sources and potentially start onboard fires. Lithium batteries stored in passenger overhead bins and or in carry-on baggage, may be obscured, difficult to access, or not readily monitored by passengers or crew members. Because of this, detection of thermal runaway and firefighting measures may be delayed in flight, increasing the risk to safety,” according to the FAA alert.
The FAA encourages airlines to “consider the hazard posed by the stowage of lithium batteries in areas not visible or easily accessible to passengers or crew members, such as in overhead bins or in carry-on baggage.”
The alert contains a list of recommendations for airlines to follow including to identify and implement risk mitigations for carrying lithium batteries; review lithium battery firefighting processes, procedures and training; and review passenger safety messaging, including websites, notification systems, cabin announcements and safety videos.
In May, Southwest Airlines updated its policy on portable battery chargers. It requires passengers to keep their chargers visible and outside of bags or storage compartments when actively being used. “When a portable charger/power bank is used during a flight, it must be out of any baggage and remain in plain sight,” the airline said.
Southwest is the only major U.S. carrier that requires portable chargers and power banks to be in the open if used during a flight.
Fighting lithium battery fires
The FAA also advises airlines in the alert to revise traditional firefighting methods to appropriately respond to a thermal runaway event.
“Use of Halon extinguishers can briefly suppress open flames, however they do not halt the thermal runaway process. The primary response involves using large amounts of water to cool the battery and suppress flames. Cooling the device with water is essential to prevent the reaction from continuing until all cells have discharged their energy,” according to the alert.
There have been 50 lithium-ion battery smoke, fire or extreme heat incidents reported this year in the U.S., the FAA said, and some of those have resulted in diversions or injuries, per Reuters.
An Aug. 5 incident involved a passenger cell phone on an American Airlines flight to Madrid from Dallas that overheated and began emitting smoke. The passenger sustained injuries, and there was damage to the aircraft floor and the flight was delayed, the FAA said.
During a July 12 flight from Chicago to Portland, Oregon, a passenger’s laptop overheated and began emitting smoke. The laptop was placed in a bag in a bathroom but the flight was diverted to Casper, Wyoming, Reuters reported.