E-cigarettes lead in aviation-related thermal-runaway incidents in 2023

Policy

AVWeb | AVWeb

By Sky Industry News

Sep 12, 2024

Battery thermal-runaway incidents on aircraft reached a five-year high in 2023, with e-cigarettes leading the causes, according to a report by the nonprofit UL Standards and Engagement (ULSE). The findings were reported by the Tobacco Reporter.

ULSE initiated its Thermal Runaway Incident Program (TRIP), which collects voluntary incident reports from its 35-member group of passenger and cargo airlines.

The report indicated that thermal runaway episodes involving lithium-ion batteries increased by 28% from 2019 to 2023, averaging two incidents per week reported to the TRIP database. On average, airline passengers bring four rechargeable devices on board each flight, with smartphones being the most common at 87%. Other frequently carried devices include wireless headphones or earbuds, tablets, and e-cigarettes. E-cigarettes accounted for 35% of reported incidents during the data collection period.

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Nearly 90% of these incidents involved devices stored near passengers' seats, allowing for easier detection before an explosion or fire could occur. However, there is a growing trend of passengers storing rechargeable devices in checked luggage, making them less accessible to flight crews. More than 27% of passengers reported placing portable chargers in their checked luggage, while another 27% admitted to stowing e-cigarettes.

Lesley Rohrbaugh, head of insights and policy analysis for ULSE, stated: “Our research highlights several trouble spots that need to be addressed, from passengers missing warnings about lithium-ion batteries to packing rechargeable devices out of reach. But we also see clear opportunities to reduce the risk, and that’s where we’re focused.”