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Rising Incidents of Overheating Lithium-Ion Batteries on Flights

New report highlights increasing safety concerns as more devices overheat mid-flight, with e-cigarettes being the most common culprit.

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Travelers use kiosks to check in for flights in the Delta Airlines ticketing area at the Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.

Overview

  • Overheating incidents rose 28% from 2019 to 2023, according to UL Standards.
  • 35% of reported overheating incidents on planes involved e-cigarettes, followed by power banks at 16%.
  • The Transportation Security Administration bans e-cigarettes and power banks in checked bags but allows them in carry-on bags.
  • In 60% of cases, overheating occurred near the seat of the passenger who brought the device on board.
  • The Federal Aviation Administration recorded 37 thermal-runaway incidents on planes this year through mid-August.