Lithium Battery Incidents on US Flights Occur Weekly on Average, FAA Data Show

Federal legislation that seeks to tackle the fire risk posed by lithium batteries is being considered.

An emergency crew arrives on the scene where a UPS 747-400 Boeing cargo plane caught fire due to lithium ion batteries in Dubai on Sept. 5, 2010. Courtesy of Federal Aviation Administration

Incidents triggered by lithium-ion batteries are now, on average, a weekly occurrence on U.S. flights, according to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), with cabin crews expressing concern over the risk.

This year, 69 lithium battery incidents involving smoke, fire, or extreme heat have occurred on U.S. flights as of Dec. 16, FAA data show.