Our device addiction could be putting travellers’ lives at risk

Lithium batteries, like the ones typically used in laptops, can be a fire hazard when used on flights - iStockphoto

You can find them in your mobile phone and laptop, and perhaps even your watch and your car. Lithium batteries have become all the rage when it comes to using electricity on the go, but are they a ticking timebomb when it comes to aviation safety?

The fact that lithium batteries can pose a fire risk won’t be unknown to anyone who has followed the horrific stories of e-scooters bursting into flames over the past few years. Now the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the body in charge of airline safety rules, has issued a fresh warning about the dangers of bringing such batteries on board tightly-packed passenger planes.

The large batteries found in e-scooters are already banned on most airlines. But the regulator fears that the much smaller batteries – particularly those found in things like portable phone chargers – could pose a fire risk. Last year, aviation authorities clocked up 50 separate incident reports of batteries exhibiting clear signs of danger (for example, becoming extremely hot and emitting smoke), with a handful of actual fires.

The big danger is what happens after that point. In South Korea, an exploding power pack is believed to be the cause of a large fire which destroyed a single-aisle Airbus jet. Luckily, the flight was still grounded at the time, meaning that the passengers could evacuate, but the plane itself was gutted in the aftermath.

Plugging your mobile phone into a portable power bank can cause overheating - iStockphoto

Flammable hazard

What exactly causes these devices to explode in the first place? “Lithium batteries can spontaneously combust when they reach something called their thermal runaway point,” says Grant Gibbs, an energy storage expert with German-based safety testers TÜV SÜD.

Thermal runaway refers to the effect that occurs when lithium ions build pressure, driving temperatures to uncontrollable levels. If the casing warps or cracks, the flammable electrolytes can ignite on contact with air, releasing noxious gases as the device bursts into flames.

Before any lithium-based battery reaches the market it must pass rigorous safety tests, says Gibbs. But it isn’t unknown for things to go wrong: earlier this year the US manufacturer Casely recalled one of its wireless phone charger models, after receiving more than 50 fire risk reports. There have also been accounts of imported devices from Asia failing to meet safety standards.

But even with non-defective products, there is a danger that devices become less safe as they get older. On top of this comes the very real risk of thermal runaway caused by an external shock, such as a sudden surge in power – or, in the case of a plane, a device being crushed when caught inside a moving seat.

Tightening of the rules

For years, the airlines have done their best to prevent dangerous use. Anyone who travels with a laptop will have probably internalised the warnings about not leaving your device plugged into the in-seat socket when you’re not using it (the idea being that you’ll at least be aware if the battery starts fizzing).

Those lucky enough to travel in business class in particular may have heard a similar warning about trying to fetch your phone if it falls into the retractable seat. The reason isn’t to do with nipping your fingers – though that could well happen – but the danger that the wrong movement will crush the device and cause the battery to catch fire.

Now some airlines are starting to tighten the rules, particularly when it comes to battery packs. Dubai’s Emirates just announced that, from October, passengers will be banned from using battery packs during the flight. Several Asian carriers, including Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways, have invoked similar rules following the Air Busan fire in Korea.

Emirates passengers will be banned from using battery packs during flights from October - Heorshe/ Alamy

As for the West, US authorities have stopped short of an overall ban, instead recommending that airlines ensure staff know what to do in the event of a fire. The low-cost carrier Southwest Airlines, however, recently became the first US carrier to change the rules around portable batteries: it now requires passengers to keep them in sight when using them.

The UK Civil Aviation Authority is following a similar approach to its American counterpart, warning of the dangers of misusing devices whilst insisting that lithium batteries aren’t inherently dangerous. Most major airlines departing from the UK – including British Airways, Ryanair and easyJet – still allow battery packs to be used on board.

Staff know the drill

Airline staff are at least being trained on what to do in the event of an emergency. “Our crew are trained to spot early signs of overheating and, most importantly, to act quickly by following the airline’s specific fire drill,” says Clare Shepherd from SkyPeople Training, a Manchester-based firm that provides training and certification to cabin crew.

The good news is that most fires can be contained if spotted early enough. Typical responses might include dousing the offending battery with a dry powder fire extinguisher, before placing it in a special fire-safe bag. As an alternative, the battery can even be submerged in water and left to cool down in the bathroom.

That isn’t to say the process won’t be mildly terrifying for those on board. An incident report of a battery fire on board a British Airways flight to Miami back in 2020 describes how crew were alerted to a large “tornado” of smoke coming from the back of one passenger’s seat, accompanied by a loud hissing sound and foul smell as the phone battery caught alight.

Lithium batteries can spontaneously combust when they reach something called their thermal runaway point - Aleksandr Pykhteev

Perhaps the passengers should at least be grateful the plane wasn’t forced to make an emergency landing on this occasion. That’s exactly what happened to an Alaska Airlines flight last year, which ended up making an unscheduled stop in Ohio after a passenger’s laptop caught alight in the cabin.

In all likelihood, then, it isn’t implausible that the rules change again before long, particularly given how many passengers are carrying portable chargers these days. In the meantime, perhaps there’s a role for us passengers to play.

“One thing consumers should do is to stop buying cheap battery products from no-name manufacturers on the internet,” says Dr Claude Chanson, an adviser to the European battery association Recharge. “Always check that any battery product that you buy is tested and qualified according to the international regulations.”

And if you’ve still got that battered old charger rattling around in your carry-on, it might be safer to retire it before your next flight – assuming, of course, that your airline hasn’t already made that decision for you.

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