Agency Issues Safety Alert for Lithium Battery Devices, Citing Recent Fires

A string of concerning fires has resulted in the FAA advising airlines to be more cautious about allowing their passengers to bring power banks onto planes. The safety alert recommends new rules on where lithium batteries can be stored, hoping to make potential fires easier to access and extinguish.

The Safety Alert for Operators (SAFO), published in September 2025, emphasizes that spare lithium batteries should never be stored in checked luggage and must remain accessible when carried in the cabin. The agency warned that batteries stowed in overhead bins or packed deeply in carry-ons are difficult to spot, making it challenging for crew members or passengers to detect problems early. This increases the risk of delayed response if a device enters thermal runaway, a chain reaction of heat and pressure that can ignite surrounding materials.

“Lithium batteries stored in passenger overhead bins and or in carry-on baggage may be obscured, difficult to access, or not readily monitored by passengers or crewmembers,” the alert read. “Because of this, detection of thermal runaway and firefighting measures may be delayed in flight, increasing the risk to safety.” The agency also reminded airlines that Halon extinguishers, standard equipment on most aircraft, are not enough to stop thermal runaway. The proper response uses large amounts of water to cool the device and block the reaction.

The alert comes after 50 reports of battery-related incidents this year alone, including fires, smoke, and overheating devices. Some events have forced flight diversions and caused injuries. A recent case involved an American Airlines flight from Dallas to Madrid, where a passenger’s cell phone overheated and burned the cabin floor. Another saw a laptop emitting smoke on a Chicago–Portland flight, prompting a diversion to Casper, Wyoming.

Lithium battery incidents are not new, but their frequency has been rising; the FAA recorded 89 cases in 2024, 77 in 2023, and 75 in 2022. Since 2006, nearly 650 confirmed cases have been logged, with the majority linked to batteries, e-cigarettes, and cell phones.

Southwest Airlines is the only major US carrier ahead of the curve, already requiring passengers to keep power banks visible when in use. The FAA’s latest alert recommends that other airlines follow suit, while also improving passenger education and crew training. The agency is also pursuing a proposed $60,000 fine against LG Energy Solution for improperly shipped batteries that caught fire at a FedEx facility.

FMI: www.faa.gov