The Impact of Public Awareness Gaps Around Lithium-Ion Batteries in Air Travel
As more airline passengers take to the skies, they are bringing more devices powered by lithium-ion batteries with them. From cell phones and laptops to tablets and headphones, these rechargeable products are essential to daily life and the travel experience. They also pose a lesser-known risk to the travelers packing them: thermal runaway.
Read our recent study on the risks lithium-ion batteries present to aviation safety.
Why do lithium batteries catch fire on planes?
Lithium-ion batteries, while efficient and widely used, can present safety hazards if damaged, improperly charged, poorly manufactured, or counterfeit. Devices containing these batteries should not be stored in checked luggage. Instead, keeping all lithium-ion battery-powered devices within arm’s reach can sharply reduce the risk of an incident occurring. Devices powered by lithium-ion batteries are generally safest in the hands of the owner, in the cabin of the aircraft where the device can be observed for signs of thermal runaway such as heat and smoke. If these signs are noticed early, airline crews have procedures to contain the device and prevent further damage to the aircraft or injury to passengers.
The Thermal Runaway Incident Program
Through ULSE’s Thermal Runaway Incident Program, we are collaborating with airline industry dangerous goods and hazardous materials professionals to closely examine data on lithium battery incidents and better understand the scale and complexity of this growing aviation safety issue. Developed with, and for, airline industry dangerous goods professionals, TRIP is a secure, voluntary system for aviation-related lithium battery incidents. Leading passenger and cargo carriers participate in TRIP, voluntarily reporting incidents to the TRIP database and participating in program summits to solve for risk. Learn more.
How can standards help mitigate battery-related fires on planes?
Our standard, UL 5800, Battery Fire Containment Products, provides fire test and performance criteria to evaluate fire containment products used to contain lithium-ion battery fires and the related effects during flight. These containment products are intended to be used by authorized personnel on commercial, private and military aviation for portable electronic devices such as cellphones, tablets and laptops that are on fire or at risk of catching on fire in the cockpit or cabin. Learn more.
Related Resources
- Addressing Lithium-Ion Battery Risks
- UL 5800 is available for purchase on ShopULstandards.com or can be viewed online for free using the Digital View functionality (registration required)
Key Findings
Thermal runaway incidents are on the rise. Incidents are at their highest point in the five years in TRIP’s data history, averaging more than two incidents per week. Nearly all airline travelers (96%) typically bring at least one rechargeable electronic or technology product that is powered by a lithium-ion battery with them onboard. Yet 44% of Americans admitted to knowing nothing about these batteries. (Source: UL Standards & Engagement)
Travelers are missing the message. Airlines and airports are actively warning passengers about lithium-ion batteries, but more than three-quarters (76%) report that they do not recall seeing lithium-ion battery-related messages during online check-in. Further, more than half of travelers either cannot recall seeing or hearing (38%) or do not know if they saw or heard (14%) safety signage announcements regarding lithium-ion batteries at any point of their travels. (Source: UL Standards & Engagement)
Despite warnings, many of these products are being stored out of reach. Keeping lithium-ion battery-powered products in arm’s reach can reduce the risk of thermal runaway, as only 12% of 2023’s reported incidents happened while the device was in use. These products should never be stored in checked luggage, yet 27% of passengers traveling with e-cigarettes — the most common culprit of thermal runaway incidents on planes — packed them in checked luggage. Another 27% placed portable power banks in their checked luggage. (Source: UL Standards & Engagement)
