Stories

Thu, 06 Aug 2026

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 Why airlines are warning over lithium-ion batteries

The airline industry wants passengers to be careful when travelling with lithium ion batteries.

* A battery fire broke out on a flight from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, forcing the plane to make an emergency landing.
* Firefighters greeted the plane and passengers were evacuated, but one seat had caught fire due to a lithium-ion battery pack that was being used by a passenger.
* The incident highlights the risks of bringing lithium-ion batteries on flights, which are becoming increasingly common due to the proliferation of portable devices such as power banks, vapes, and smartwatches.
* According to the UK's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), lithium-ion batteries are one of the top three risks for airlines.
* A study showed that there were two lithium-ion battery-related incidents per week worldwide in 2022.
* The CAA's Jonathan Nicholson said that the problem is not with the technology itself, but rather with how it is used and handled by passengers.
* Lithium-ion batteries are prone to overheating and can catch fire quickly due to their high energy density.
* The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has reported an increase in confirmed incidents involving lithium-ion batteries on flights.
* Experts say that the problem is not just with the devices themselves, but also with how passengers use them and care for them.
* There are no economic alternatives to lithium-ion technology at present, but sodium-ion batteries are being developed as a potential alternative.
* The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has launched a global campaign to educate passengers on safe handling of lithium-ion batteries.