Lithium-ion batteries are causing a dramatic rise in fires on airplanes
WASHINGTON (SOA) — Joseph Fleck calls it the scariest flight of his lifetime.
"I hear a loud yell, 'Hey, there's a fire!'" Fleck said. "I looked up immediately and quickly saw the cabin filling with smoke and this very nasty smell."
It is a situation that highlights the prevalence and dangers of lithium-ion batteries. People use them every day. In fact, travelers bring an average of four of these devices on board every time they fly. But there's been a dramatic rise in fires triggered by these batteries on board flights, and experts warn more needs to be done to avoid a disaster.
Fleck's Spirit Airlines flight from Dallas to Orlando was forced to make an emergency landing, and 10 people were hospitalized, all because of a lithium-ion battery. While it was charging, Fleck said the battery caught on fire, igniting a backpack full of clothes.
It's a story increasing in frequency. Fires involving lithium-ion batteries on planes have risen 388% since 2015, now happening nearly twice a week on average, according to FAA data.
A laptop battery ignited a fire last summer at San Francisco International Airport, forcing evacuations.
And just this past January in South Korea, a shocking sight, as a fire destroyed the roof of a plane that was just 10 minutes from taking off.
A battery bank also stored in an overhead bin was to blame.
David Wroth studies the issue closely as Senior Director of Technology and Systems for UL Standards & Engagement.
"If that fire had occurred 15 minutes later, it could have easily resulted in the crash of that airplane," Wroth said.
Wroth said the reason for the fires is typically that the battery has been damaged or abused. In some cases, he said, the fires can be caused by substandard or counterfeit batteries, which pose a unique hazard.
Most fires on planes involve the battery or battery packs themselves, followed by E-cigarettes or vaping devices, but also happen with cell phones and laptops of all brands that can overheat and go into something called thermal runaway.
"Thermal runaway is essentially a condition where the battery starts to release energy in an uncontrolled way," Wroth said. "In the most extreme cases, it can result in smoke, fire, and even explosion."
The FAA released a test video that shows how catastrophic the fires can be, especially with thousands of batteries stored in one place.
"There have been several cases where battery fires on cargo aircraft have resulted in crashes and death of the pilots who were delivering that cargo," Wroth said.
One of them was a UPS plane that crashed in Dubai in 2010, killing the crew on board, after a "catastrophic cargo fire," which led the FAA to declare the bulk shipping of lithium-ion batteries to be an "extreme hazard."
This spring, the TSA issued a new rule that power banks, cell phone charging cases and spare laptop batteries must be placed in carry-on baggage only to contain fire hazards in the cabin. With Wroth estimating there can be upwards of 250 devices on a passenger plane, there is a question about how airlines deal with battery emergencies on board, when every second counts.
A recent UL Survey found self-reported "gaps" in flight crews' understanding of the events and how to handle them, as well as "varying procedures" when it comes to safety equipment like containment bags, which are used to isolate a device that's overheating.
We contacted all the major US airlines to ask about their policies, and only Alaska responded to suggest that flight crews received specialized training and all flights have the containment equipment.
Joseph Fleck said the memory of his 2023 ordeal is still fresh, and he's changed his flight patterns as a result.
"Maybe five seconds where I said, 'Wow, this is it. This is how it ends,' is terrifying," he said.
David Wroth told us there are a few things for consumers to be aware of. If the price of a battery bank or charging device seems too good to be true, it likely is, and it may be counterfeit or even hazardous, so best to avoid it. When you board a plane with a lithium-ion battery-powered device, keep it within arm's reach.
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The FAA sent us the following information:
Battery transportation safety is a priority for the FAA. We provide extensive safety resources for both passengers and airlines, and require airlines to report incidents. Data from these reports is critical for the FAA and aviation industry to identify and address potential trends.
The FAA recommends that passengers keep cell phones and other devices nearby in the cabin to quickly access them if necessary. Flight crews are trained to recognize and respond to lithium battery fires in the cabin. Passengers should notify the flight crew immediately if their lithium battery or device is overheating, expanding, smoking or burning.
Dangerous Goods
PackSafe - Portable Electronic Devices Containing Batteries
https://www.faa.gov/hazmat/packsafe/portable-electronic-devices-with-batteries
Airline Passengers and Batteries FAQs
https://www.faa.gov/hazmat/packsafe/airline-passengers-and-batteries
OperateSafe for Air Carriers
https://www.faa.gov/hazmat/air_carriers
