FAA: 93 Lithium Battery Air Incidents in 2025

The latest report on lithium battery aviation incidents from US FAA lists 93 incidents that involved a battery smoking, igniting, or producing extreme heat aboard aircraft in 2025. That is, approximately, a 4.5% increase from the year before.

Thirteen of the reported incidents involved batteries shipped on cargo aircraft; 80 occurred on passenger aircraft. The 13 lithium battery incidents that occurred on cargo aircraft are summarized below.

FAA attributed the lithium battery air incidents tracked in 2025 to electronic devices as follows:

• Battery packs/battery: 31
• Cell phones: 21
• e-Cigarette/vape devices: 22
• Laptops: 8
• Other electronic devices: 11

FAA notes that these are only the incidents the agency was able to verify and should not be considered the full list of battery-related events on aircraft.

2025 Lithium Battery Aircraft Cargo Incidents

February 1 (Laptop)

During ground handling operations at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), a package containing a laptop was observed emitting smoke. Ground personnel submerged the laptop in water and placed it in a salvage drum. There was no report of injury or damage.

February 5 (Batteries)

During the ground handling process at the cargo facility in Karlsruhe-Grotzingen, Germany, ground personnel observed three packages containing lithium batteries emitting smoke. The packages were removed from the ground handling process and contained. There was no report of injury.

February 14 (Batteries)

During the ground handling process at a cargo facility in Vejle, Denmark, ground personnel noted a package containing lithium batteries emitting smoke. The facility was evacuated and emergency personnel responded. The package was placed in water. There were no reports of injury or damage.

April 10 (Cell Phones)

During the ground handling process at the FedEx cargo facility in Atlanta, GA (ATL), ground personnel observed a package containing multiple cellular phones overheating and emitting smoke. The package was submerged in a drum filled with water. There was no report of injury.

April 23 (Battery)

During the ground handling process at a cargo facility in Memphis, TN (MEM), ground personnel observed a package containing a lithium battery emitting smoke. Ground personnel submerged the package in water. There was no report of injury.

April 30 (Laptop)

During the ground handling process at a cargo facility in Memphis, TN (MEM), a shipment containing a laptop was damaged and caught fire. The fire was extinguished, and the laptop was placed into a salvage drum. There was no report of damage or injury.

May 10 (Battery)

During the ground handling process at a cargo facility in Memphis, TN, ground personnel located a shipment containing a lithium-ion battery that caught fire. The fire was extinguished and contained. There was no report of injury or damage to the facility.

June 9 (Batteries)

During the ground handling process at a FedEx facility in Dulles, VA (IAD), ground personnel discovered a package containing two lithium-ion batteries emitting smoke. Ground personnel used a fire extinguisher and water to extinguish the fire. There was no report of injury or damage to the facility.

July 2 (Other Electronic Device)

During the ground handling process at a facility in Dallas/Fort Worth, TX (DFW), ground personnel discovered a package containing a personal electronic device that went into thermal runaway and caught fire. Ground personnel extinguished the fire. There was no report of injury or damage.

July 8 (Batteries)

During the ground handling process at a facility in Olive Branch, MS (MEM), ground personnel observed a package with devices containing lithium-metal batteries that were emitting smoke. Ground personnel placed the devices in a savage drum and covered the devices with water. There was no report of injury or damage to the facility.

August 2 (Laptop)

During the ground handling process at a facility in Louisville, KY, a package containing a laptop computer was observed emitting smoke. Ground personnel placed the package into a salvage drum and moved it outside. Emergency personnel were notified. There was no report of injury or damage to the facility.

September 20 (Other Electronic Device)

During the ground handling process at a facility in Memphis, TN (MEM), ground personnel observed a package containing a personal electronic device overheating and emitting an odor. Ground personnel submerged the package containing the personal electronic device in water. There was no report of injury or damage to the facility.

November 26 (Battery)

During the ground handling process and a cargo facility in Memphis, TN (MEM), a package containing a lithium-ion battery was observed emitting smoke. Emergency personnel responded and placed the package nto a salvage drum that was filled with water. There was no report of injury or damage.

Recent Regulation Changes for Lithium Batteries

IATA began limiting the state of charge (SoC) for lithium batteries shipped alone several years ago. IATA introduced additional limits on SoC for batteries shipped in or with equipment as recommendations in the 2025 DGR.

Starting January 1, 2026, the following must be offered for transport at a state of charge not exceeding 30% of their rated design capacity or an indicated battery capacity not exceeding 25%:

• UN 3481, lithium ion batteries packed with equipment where the cells/batteries have a Watt-hour rating greater than 2.7 Wh.
• UN 3556, Vehicle, lithium ion battery powered where the battery has a Watt-hour rating greater than 100 Wh.

Lithium Battery Shipper Training

Attend Lion’s next Shipping Lithium Batteries webinar to learn how to safely, properly ship lithium batteries—by themselves, with equipment, or in equipment—by ground, air, or vessel in 2026.

Tags: hazmat incident, lithium batteries