Empowering Cabin Crew, Educating Passengers

The proliferation of lithium-ion batteries in personal electronic devices has introduced new safety considerations for the aviation industry. 

To capture a snapshot of current practices and challenges faced by airline cabin crew in managing lithium-ion battery risks, ULSE conducted a comprehensive survey of 805 airline cabin crew members between June and August 2024. The survey respondents offer a cross-section of the 

global aviation workforce, mirroring the industry's complex landscape. 

Key takeaways from the report include:  

1. While most cabin crew members are aware of the risks associated with lithium-ion batteries, far fewer passengers are. Nearly all cabin crew (97%) are very or somewhat aware of the potential for battery thermal runaway compared to just 58% of passengers who stated they are aware of risks associated with thermal runaway. The lack of passenger awareness may be contributing to the nearly nine-in-ten (87%) cabin crew members who expressed they were very or somewhat concerned about an incident occurring on an aircraft.
2. Cabin crew are confident in their ability to handle incidents but less certain about passenger safety given variables out of their control. Nearly all (97%) cabin crew members feel that they are adequately prepared for an incident and 94% expressed confidence in their ability to recognize potential battery hazards. However, only 27% feel very confident about passenger safety from a potential incident. With nearly one-quarter (24%) of passengers storing one or more rechargeable products in their checked luggage, there is a risk of thermal runaway incidents going unnoticed and escalating where cabin crew cannot access the item.  
3. Cabin crew are satisfied with their airline's rules regarding lithium-ion battery safety but see opportunities for improvement. While cabin crew are generally satisfied (85%) with their airline’s specific rules, when asked specifically if they feel airlines should be doing more to ensure lithium-ion battery safety on flights, 37% agreed. Consistent equipment could support greater safety, as 25% of cabin crew reported their airline does not provide fire containment devices (19%) or they are unfamiliar with such equipment (6%). Further, only 46% of cabin crew agreed that airlines are effectively communicating these battery risks with passengers – alerting the need for passenger education.