05/10/18 Delta Airlines Passenger Battery Packs/Batteries
A gate checked bag for a passenger was discovered smoking in the connecting bag
staging area where it was stored in preparation for its connecting flight. The bag had
flown from Columbus, OH (CMH) to Atlanta, GA (ATL) on Delta flight 1646 and was
prepared to fly to LOS Angeles (LAX) on flight 54 when it was discovered. The bag
was not loaded on the connecting flight. Ten (10) loose lithium ion laptop computer
batteries where improperly packed in the bag with their terminals unprotected
resulting in two (2) of the batteries shorting out producing a dangerous evolution of
heat.
05/09/18 Allegiant Airlines Passenger e-Cigarettes/Vape Devices
Flight 318 from Los Angeles (LAX) to Springfield, MO (SGF) returned to the gate at
LAX due to a vape device inside of a passengers carry-on bag caught fire. The bag
was burned as well as the carpet of the aircraft. A fire extinguisher was used to put
the fire out. No injuries were reported.
05/05/18 Delta Airlines Passenger e-Cigarettes/Vape Devices
A Vape Pen that appears to have gone into Thermal Runaway while at San Diego
International Airport. No additional info at this time.
04/27/18 Southwest Airlines Passenger Battery Packs/Batteries
A checked bag in the baggage sort room was emitting smoke. It contained four 3.7v
lithium-ion batteries in a charging device. One or more of the batteries went into
thermal runaway and burned the bag significantly. The spare batteries were for a
04/19/18 United Airlines Passenger Battery Packs/Batteries
At Kansas City, KS (MCI) airport, a checked bag caught fire in the baggage sort room
after being place on the outbound baggage belt. Bag room personnel extinguished
the fire. The bag contained a battery-charging device with lithium ion batteries
inserted.
04/10/18 Delta Airlines Passenger Cell Phone
On flight 2981, from Seattle, WA (SEA) to Salt Lake City, UT (SLC), during approach a
passenger’s iPhone 6S started to spark/smoke. The phone was not charging, the
passenger was playing on phone. IPhone 6s started to spark/smoke he took it to the
Flight Attendants in the back. During the process, the customer burned his hand. He
refused medical attention. Flight Attendants placed in fire containment bag with
water and then in lavatory sink. The phone was returned to the customer. No
injuries to crew.
04/07/18 United Airlines Passenger Laptop
On flight 90, from Newark, NJ (EWR) to Tel Aviv, Israel (TLV), a passengers’ iPad
became wedged in their seat, became very hot and began to emit smoke. It was
placed in a containment bag. No injuries or damage were reported.
04/04/18 Southwest Airlines Passenger Laptop
A passenger spilled water on a laptop causing it to smoke and overheat. Flight
attendant placed laptop in a containment bag. No injuries or damage to the aircraft
03/17/18 United Airlines Passenger Battery Packs/Batteries
On flight 1506 from Houston, TX (IAH) to Havana, Cuba (HAV), a customer’s power
pack in his backpack overheated, exploded and caught fire. The passenger threw it
into the aisle where it was extinguished and then then placed into a containment
bag by the flight attendant. No injuries or damage were reported.
03/12/18 Delta Airlines Passenger Cell Phone
On flight 40 from Sydney, Australia (SYD) to Los Angeles (LAX), a passenger's phone
became wedged in his seat and began to smoke. The passenger was moved to
another seat while the flight attendant removed the phone and placed it in a
containment bag. The flight landed without incident. No injuries or damage
reported.
03/12/18 Skywest Airlines Passenger Other Device Types
While loading baggage on SkyWest flight 4449 in Salt Lake City, UT (SLC) the ground
crew smelled a burning electrical smell and notified the pilot and the Tower. The
pilot had all of the baggage removed from the aircraft and identified source to a
piece of checked baggage. The bag was opened and one of two pairs of Lithium-ion
battery heated socks, which had burned, were discovered. The investigation
revealed that the socks have a slide switch, which allows the unit to be on High or
Low, and if the switch is in the middle, it is OFF. No guard or safety switch to prevent
accidental activation. There were two (2) pairs of socks. Each sock has its own
battery, for a total of four batteries. One of the batteries was either in the ON
position or had a runaway. The switch position cannot be determined on the burned
battery. The next battery was melted to the first battery and the sock material. That
battery was in the OFF position. The last two batteries were not affected. The brand
of the socks is: Flambeau www.flambeauoutdoors.com USA/Canada and Europe
15981 Valplast Road Middlefield, OH 44062 1-800-232- 3474 Battery Info: Freerein
3.7V Li-ion battery System Model Number FR05, Ref: 2400mAh Input 5V-650mA
Output High 5V-1A Low 4.5V – 1A
03/01/18 Allegiant Airlines Passenger Battery Packs/Batteries
A bag began to emit smoke and catch fire after being place on the carousel in
baggage claim at Harrisburg, PA (MDT). Emergency services were dispatched. A
passenger realized it was his suitcase and removed the bag from the carousel and
took it outside of the terminal, where the flames burned out. The cause of the fire
appeared to be from three lithium batteries, as they were still smoldering when
emergency services arrived on scene. The passenger indicated the batteries were
Samsung rechargeable batteries used for his vape device.