Interactive Lithium Battery Incident Chart: Lithium battery-related events involving smoke, fire, or extreme heat that the FAA is aware of since 2006. 

Video: Lithium Batteries: What’s the Risk? Lithium batteries are in products we use every day and can be dangerous on aircraft if not packed or shipped properly. This video was created for passengers, air carrier employees, gate agents, shippers, and consumers to reduce the risk of fire on an aircraft, especially in the cabin and flight deck by educating about the risk posed by lithium batteries.

Report: Summary of FAA Studies Related to the Hazards Produced by Lithium Cells in Thermal Runaway in Aircraft Cargo Compartments. This report characterizes the hazards posed by lithium cells and batteries transported as air cargo on aircraft and the effectiveness of certain aircraft fire suppression agents and packaging configurations in mitigating the associated risks. 

Website: Cargo Safety Hazards: This page assists operators in conducting appropriate risk assessments on lithium batteries carried in aircraft cargo compartments or passenger baggage. 

Blog: Lithium Batteries; A Hot Topic. Learn about the risks, the data, and how the FAA helps prevent lithium battery incidents on aircraft.

Videos: FAA Tech Center Lithium Battery Testing:

• Lithium Ion batteries in a ULD (WMV)
• Laptop and aerosol in a luggage (WMV)
• PED and aerosol in a luggage in a cargo compartment (WMV)
• Galley with computers (WMV)
• Luggage test (WMV)

Poster: No Damaged Lithium Batteries Cargo. Never ship, load, or transport a damaged package containing lithium batteries.

Website: Consumer Product Safety Commission. Damaged or recalled batteries and battery-powered devices, which are likely to create sparks or generate a dangerous evolution of heat, must not be carried aboard an aircraft (e.g. carry-on or checked baggage) unless the damaged or recalled battery has been removed or otherwise made safe. The airline may offer further public guidance on transporting individual recalled products. For additional information on recalls, visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission. 

Brochure: Lithium Battery Safety. For additional information on understanding the risks of damaged, defective, or recalled lithium batteries see the Department of Transportation’s brochure.

Training Video: Portable Electronic Device Fire Training – Cabin. Training for in-Cabin staff, video complements FAA Advisory Circular 120-80.

Training Video: Portable Electronic Device Fire Training – Flight Deck. Training for flight deck staff, video complements FAA Advisory Circular 120-80.

Website: Incident Reporting Saves Lives! It is critically important that all injuries and accidents, including near misses, are reported so that the causes can be determined, and the risk eliminated. Reporting hazards helps prevent additional injuries and increases safety. Making an Incident Report isn't difficult, and we are here to help.

Fact Sheet: Dangerous Goods Exceptions for Passengers and Crewmembers Traveling with Baggage. This Fact Sheet provides awareness of dangerous goods requirements for aircraft operators transporting crewmember baggage. 

Brochure: Is your COMAT safe to fly? Company material(s) (COMAT) are materials owned or used by the certificate holder. COMAT includes parts, consumable items, and other company materials to describe a wide array of company materials and parts. COMAT includes items removed for servicing and repair, such as laptops, tablets, or credit card readers.

Poster: Know before you ship. Each person who engages in the acceptance or transport of cargo for transportation by aircraft shall display notices to persons offering such cargo of the requirements applicable to the carriage of hazardous materials aboard aircraft, and the penalties for failure to comply with those requirements, at each facility where cargo is accepted (See 49 CFR 175.26). 

Three poster sizes available: 24x36in; 11x17in; 8.5x11in

Website: Cargo Safety Resources: This page incudes general resources that support cargo safety including relevant lithium battery FAA Safety Alerts for Operators (SAFOs), Information for Operators (InFOs), Advisory Circulars (ACs), and more. 

Video: PackSafe for Air Travel. Laptops, lighters, e-cigarettes, lithium batteries, paint, aerosols, fuel... these are just a few of the many common items you use every day that are considered dangerous goods and have restrictions on how or if they can be packed in your luggage for air travel.

At the Ticket Counter:

At the TSA Check Point:

At the Gate:

All Locations:

Video: Traveling with your Drone/UAS. When you take your drone with you onboard passenger aircraft – whether you use drones for recreation, commercial activities, or as a public aircraft operator – your drone might be a dangerous good! Lithium batteries, fuel cells, and components of certain parachute systems can all be classified as dangerous goods.

Brochure: Your drone might be a Dangerous Good. When you take your drone with you onboard passenger aircraft – whether you use drones for recreation, commercial activities, or as a public aircraft operator – your drone might be a dangerous good! Lithium batteries, fuel cells, and components of certain parachute systems can all be classified as dangerous goods.

Poster: PackSafe When In Doubt Leave it Out. Most dangerous goods are forbidden in carry-on and checked baggage. There are a few exceptions for some personal items, such as certain battery powered electronics and assistive devices.

Marketing Kit: Vapes On a Plane. Electronic smoking devices, like vapes and e-cigarettes, contain lithium batteries and are considered dangerous goods due to their risk of smoke, fire, and extreme heat. As such, they are restricted to on how they can be packed when preparing for travel on an aircraft. 

Checklist: Audio Visual Equipment. Audio Visual production professionals often travel with gear that could be considered DANGEROUS GOODS and HAVE RESTRICTIONS for air travel. Before packing, check the PackSafe chart and your products’ Safety Data Sheets to see what you can and cannot bring as carry-on or checked baggage onboard an aircraft. Below is a summary of gear and how to pack it.

Checklist: Teams and Groups. Have a sports team, scouts, band, mission, or other group traveling by air? While each team member may pack some personal items with them, often team gear is packed together to reduce the number of bags, creating larger quantities of potentially DANGEROUS GOODS: Print the two-page summary.

Blog: Hazards in “Plane” Sight: These Items Might be Lurking in Your Bag. You might be surprised to learn that these six common items are dangerous goods and are often removed from passenger baggage by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Before you pack for your next flight, double-check that these items are either left out or packed safely.

Guide: Airline Passengers and Batteries. Frequently Asked Questions and Answers related to traveling with batteries. 

Podcast: The Air Up There Podcast Fly Safe With Lithium Batteries. Watts all this talk about lithium batteries and why are they such a hot topic when it comes to flying? You might be shocked to learn that everyday items you pack in your travel bags contain lithium batteries that can cause cabin fires. Your cell phone, laptop, tablet, and smartwatch all have lithium batteries and can be potential fire hazards. On the positive side, you have the power to reduce these risks.

Video: Lithium Battery Basics. Lithium Batteries or equipment containing lithium batteries are considered “dangerous goods” because they can pose significant safety risks in transportation. Shippers must ensure batteries are properly packed, prepared, and communicated to the air carrier to ensure shipments arrive safely.

Interactive Guide: Shipping Lithium Batteries. This guide provides awareness of the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) 2023-2024 Edition of the Technical Instructions (Doc 9284) requirements for lithium batteries. NOTE: The interactive batteries guide works best in Google Chrome or saved to your desktop and opened in Acrobat Reader.

Guidance: Transport of Lithium Metal and Lithium-Ion Batteries. To assist shippers in understanding the complete requirements related to the transport of lithium batteries, including packing instructions, IATA has prepared the updated Lithium Battery Guidance Document (pdf). This 2023 guidance document includes updated and additional FAQs for shippers to learn how to comply with the 64th (2023) Edition of the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) on definitions, classifications, exceptions, and prohibitions. 

Guidance: PHMSA Lithium Battery Guide for Shippers. This compliance resource was prepared to assist shippers in safely packaging lithium cells and batteries for transport by all modes according to the latest (December 27, 2022; HM-260B) regulatory requirements. This publication directs readers to scenario-based shipping guides that outline the requirements to ship packages of lithium cells and batteries in various configurations. Each distinct shipping guide in this document refers to the regulatory requirements for a specific lithium cell/battery type, configuration, or size.