According to a report released on September 8 by the non-profit organization UL Standards & Engagement, the number of battery thermal runaway incidents on aircraft is at its highest point in five years, with e-cigarette devices accounting for 35% of reported incidents and becoming the main source of risk.
The report, titled "The Lithium-Ion Battery Incident and Its Impact on Aviation Safety," is based on data from ULSE's independently developed Thermal Runaway Incident Program (TRIP) and includes voluntary reports from 35 passenger and cargo airlines. The report emphasizes the risks of devices such as e-cigarettes and portable power sources being frequently carried on aircraft, especially as handling such issues in flight becomes more challenging. The release of the report aims to increase awareness among the public, airlines, and the e-cigarette industry about lithium-ion battery safety issues, and to drive the industry to strengthen battery safety standards, passenger education, and crew response training in order to reduce the occurrence of future accidents.
According to a report, in 2023, 85% of battery thermal runaway incidents occurred when the batteries displayed warning signals such as overheating and smoking, but did not progress to full thermal runaway. While only 15% of these incidents resulted in fires or explosions, the rapid development of thermal runaway events indicates that most incidents have the potential to escalate if not addressed promptly.
In addition, placing rechargeable devices in checked luggage is also a common occurrence in airplane battery thermal runaway incidents, with over 27% of travelers reporting checking in mobile chargers and another 27% checking in e-cigarettes.
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