en
Illustration by the US Federal Aviation Administration.
04 Feb 2025

Will phones, laptops, and other lithium battery-powered devices ever be banned from commercial flights due to fire risks?

en

The increasing reliance on lithium battery-powered devices such as smartphones, laptops, and tablets has raised concerns about their potential fire risks during air travel. 

While these devices are essential for modern communication and work, their batteries can pose significant hazards if damaged or improperly handled.

Lithium batteries, which power everyday devices, can catch fire if damaged or if battery terminals are short-circuited. Incidents involving lithium batteries have been reported on commercial flights, leading to stricter regulations and guidelines for their transport. 

For example, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) have issued guidelines to mitigate the risks associated with lithium batteries.

 

Growing rate of lithium related incidents on air crafts

According to an article on the news site Lithium Safe, there has  In recent years, been  a growing number of lithium battery fires on aircraft. 

Hundreds of millions of Lithium batteries or equipment with Lithium batteries are carried on aircraft annually. 

On a typical flight, an aircraft carrying 100 passengers could have more than 500 lithium batteries on board. 

This includes devices such as laptop computers, tablet devices, mobile phones, power banks, cameras, electronic watches and e-readers. Also carry-on items such as Portable IF and defibrillators carry lithium batteries. 

Furthermore, more and more flying crews are taking advantage of the capabilities offered by Electronic Flight Bags (EFBs) -  the majority of which use Lithium batteries as a primary power source. 

However, lithium batteries may also enter a cockpit in the form of a flashlight, laptop, iPad, camera, mobile phone etc. 

A total of 171 incidents between 1991 and 2016 was recorded involving batteries carried as baggage or cargo on airplanes. (recorded by the US Federal Aviation Administration).

An internet search for the same number from 2016 and until today ( February 4, 2025) showed a much higher number: 

Since 2016, there have been 579 recorded incidents involving lithium batteries on aircraft, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). 

These incidents include fires, smoke, extreme heat, or explosions caused by lithium batteries carried as cargo or baggage. 

The number of incidents has surged by 388% since 2015, with 69 incidents occurring in the first 11 months of 2024 alone.

 

Current Regulations 

Currently, most airlines allow passengers to carry lithium battery-powered devices in their carry-on baggage. However, spare batteries and devices with larger batteries must be approved by the airline and are subject to specific packing requirements to prevent short-circuits and overheating3. Damaged, defective, or recalled batteries are prohibited from both carry-on and checked baggage.

 

Potential for Future Bans

 While a complete ban on lithium battery-powered devices is unlikely, stricter regulations and enhanced afety measures could be implemented in the future. Airlines and regulatory bodies continue to monitor the safety of these devices and may introduce additional restrictions if necessary.

 

Conclusion 

While the outright ban of lithium battery-powered devices from commercial flights is improbable, the potential fire risks associated with these devices necessitate ongoing vigilance and adherence to safety guidelines. Passengers are encouraged to follow airline regulations and pack their devices properly to ensure a safe journey.

 

Photo Credit: Illustration by the US Federal Aviation Administration.

 

Sources: 

LithiumSafe.com: https://www.lithiumsafe.com/lithium-battery-fires-in-aircraft/

CATSA - Guidelines for Batteries 

FAA - Lithium Batteries in Baggage I

ATA - Passengers Travelling with Lithium Batteries