Frequent overheating of battery-powered devices on airplanes raises alarms

As of September 10, 2024, there is an increasing frequency of overheating of devices powered by lithium-ion batteries during flights, raising alarms. Passengers often put these devices in checked baggage, and if a fire occurs in the cargo hold, it may be difficult to detect in time.

A report released on Monday shows that from 2019 to 2023, overheating incidents increased by 28%. Although still relatively few, e-cigarettes are more prone to overheating than other devices. Sixty percent of overheating occurs near the seats of passengers carrying devices on board. In July, a plane awaiting takeoff at San Francisco International Airport was evacuated due to a smoking laptop in a passenger's bag. Last year, a flight from Dallas to Orlando made an emergency landing in Jacksonville due to a battery fire in the overhead luggage compartment.

Investigations show that more than a quarter of passengers put e-cigarettes and portable chargers in checked baggage, violating federal regulations. The US Transportation Security Administration prohibits putting e-cigarettes and chargers and power banks with lithium-ion batteries in checked baggage but allows them in carry-on baggage because fires in the cargo hold are difficult to detect and extinguish.

The research by UL Standards and participating departments is based on data from 35 passenger and cargo airlines, including the nine major US passenger airlines. The US Federal Aviation Administration reports that there have been 37 thermal runaway incidents on airplanes this year and 77 last year, an increase of 71% compared to 2019. Considering that airlines have about 180,000 flights per week, in-flight incidents are relatively uncommon, but thermal runaway at 40,000 feet does pose unique risks.

After the crashes of cargo planes carrying large amounts of lithium-ion batteries in 2010 and 2011, the United Nations aviation organization considered restricting the transportation of such cargo but was rejected. Common lithium-ion powered devices on airplanes include mobile phones, laptops, wireless headphones, and tablets. About 35% of overheating incidents involve e-cigarettes, and 16% involve power banks.