US FAA issues safety alert on risks posed by passenger lithium batteries on planes

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By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration issued a safety alert on Tuesday to airlines over risks from lithium batteries in aircraft passenger compartments, citing a large number of serious incidents.

The FAA recommended airlines adopt risk mitigation strategies, including clear messaging to address potential fire risks tied to lithium batteries carried by passengers and crew members and review firefighting procedures and training.

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.

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.

Others have involved cargo planes with laptops or other batteries in shipments. The FAA last week proposed a $60,000 fine against LG Energy Solution for allegedly violating the hazardous materials regulations.

The FAA cited a January 2024 undeclared and improperly packaged shipment of five lithium-ion batteries from Seoul to Los Angeles.

FedEx personnel discovered the shipment when it emitted flames in its sorting facility in Irvine, California. 

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Chris Reese and Aurora Ellis)