Lithium Battery Air Incidents Increased by 16% in 2024

The latest report on lithium battery aviation incidents from US FAA lists 89 incidents that involved a battery smoking, igniting, or producing extreme heat aboard aircraft in 2024. That’s a ~16% increase from the year before.

12 of the reported incidents involved batteries shipped on cargo aircraft; 77 occurred on passenger aircraft. The 12 lithium battery incidents that occurred on cargo aircraft are summarized below.

Devices Involved in Lithium Battery Air Incidents

With the report, 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. One method FAA uses to track lithium battery incidents aboard aircraft is reviewing hazmat incident reports, often submitted by air carriers.

FAA’s Lithium Battery Air Incident tracker.

---

2024 Lithium Battery Incidents on Cargo Aircraft

Below is a summary of each lithium battery incident involving air cargo, as recorded by FAA on the Lithium Battery Air Incidents chart. Improper packaging, along with damage to batteries during sorting or loading, were common factors contributing to these air cargo incidents.

January 9, 2024: Battery Pack/Battery

Ground handling personnel observed smoke, embers, and flames from a package during the ground handling process at the cargo facility in Irvine, CA (SNA). The package was secured in a salvage drum while first responders were contacted. The parcel was retrieved and found to contain Lithium-ion batteries; it was determined that the batteries had experienced a thermal event

February 21, 2024: Battery Pack/Battery

Ground handling personnel observed smoke, embers, and flames from a package during the ground handling process at the cargo facility in Uniondale, NY (JFK). The package was moved outside the cargo facility and was consumed by fire. Ground handling personnel determined a portable battery charger inside the parcel experienced a thermal event.

March 15, 2024: Battery Pack/Battery

Ground personnel observed charring on packages during the ground handling process at the cargo facility in Hong Kong, China (HKG). The packages were moved to a safe area away from the cargo facility. At the time of the incident, the packages were being prepared for air transportation to Atlanta, GA (ATL). All packages associated with the charred packages were removed from the air transportation system by ground personnel.

April 24, 2024: Battery Pack/Battery

During the ground handling process at the cargo facility in Paris, France (CDG). A package was dropped by ground personnel and began to emit smoke. The cargo facility was evacuated, emergency personnel responded, extinguished the fire, and took possession of the package. The package contained lithium batteries. There were no reports of injury to ground personnel or damage to cargo facility equipment.

August 8, 2024: Battery Pack/Battery

During the ground handling process at the cargo facility in Washington, DC (IAD), ground personnel saw smoke and smelled a burning odor emitting from a package. After opening the package, they found twenty-five lithium-ion replacement batteries for cellular phones. Three of the batteries melted together and burned through the inner packaging. There were no reports of injury to ground personnel or damage to equipment.

August 10, 2024: Battery Pack/Battery

During the ground handling process at the cargo facility in Asuncion, Paraguay (ASU), while unloading the aircraft, ground personnel identified a package damaged by fire. The cargo was unloaded and separated. Emergency personnel responded to verify that no active fire was present. The damaged package contained lithium batteries. There were no reports of injury to ground personnel or damage to the aircraft.

August 14, 2024: Other Electronic Device

During the ground handling process at the cargo facility in Memphis, TN (MEM), ground personnel ran over a package containing lithium batteries, which caught fire. There were no reports of injury to ground personnel or damage to cargo facility equipment.

September 25, 2024: Battery Pack/Battery

During the ground handling process at the cargo facility in Brussels, Belgium (BRU), ground personnel observed a package containing a lithium battery that began to emit smoke and caught fire. The cargo facility was evacuated, and emergency personnel extinguished the fire and took possession of the package. There were no reports of injury or damage.

September 26, 2024: Other Electronic Device

During the ground handling process at Los Angeles, CA (LAX), ground personnel caused a package containing a lithium battery to fall from a shelf. The battery in the package went into a thermal runaway. The battery was taken outside, where emergency personnel extinguished the fire. There were no reports of injury or damage.

December 3, 2024: Other Electronic Device

During ground handling operations at Roissy, France (CDG), a package containing a personal electronic device overheated, and subsequently exploded. Emergency personnel responded and maintained possession of the electronic device for analysis. One employee was transported to the hospital for treatment. There was no report of damage.

December 15, 2024: Laptop

During the ground handling process at the UPS Cargo Sort Facility in Louisville, KY (SDF), ground personnel damaged a package on the sorting belt. The package contained a laptop that overheated. The laptop was extinguished and placed in a salvage drum. There were no reports of injury or damage.

December 26, 2024: Battery Pack/Battery

During the ground handling process at a cargo facility in Ontario, CA (ONT), ground personnel observed a package containing portable lithium battery chargers that began to overheat then caught fire. Emergency personnel responded and extinguished the fire. There were no reports of injury or damage.

Lithium Battery Training for Shippers

The Shipping Lithium Batteries online course provides required hazardous materials/dangerous goods training for managers and employees who ship lithium batteries by ground, air, or ocean.

The course covers the latest 49 CFR (US DOT), IATA DGR, and IMDG Code regulations that shippers must know to ship lithium-ion and -metal batteries and cells in-equipment, with-equipment, or by themselves. The course also covers additional requirements for damaged, defective, and recalled lithium batteries and cells.

Train at your own pace or join us for the next live, instructor-led webinar.

Tags: lithium batteries, lithium batteries by air