Incidents of lithium-ion batteries overheating on airline flights surged by 28% from 2019 to 2023, raising concerns surrounding their safety in checked luggage.
E-cigarettes were highlighted as the most frequently overheated device according to reports from 35 airlines, with 60% of thermal runaway incidents linked to devices near the passenger's seat.
The Transportation Security Administration's rules prohibit e-cigarettes and lithium-ion battery-powered devices in checked bags due to the potential danger of undetectable fires in the cargo hold.
Despite airlines operating around 180,000 flights each week, thermal runaway incidents remain infrequent and can occur with lithium batteries anywhere.
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