Like the title says, why are batteries at risk to catching fire on planes? Why do they ask you to remove batteries from your luggage?
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Lithium ion batteries are always a risk for catching on fire
As a general rule, fire hazards are not permitted in the cargo compartment of passenger airlines
A fire in the cabin can be spotted and dealt with quickly. A fire in the cargo compartment runs the risk of not being caught until too late
The risk of fire is low but just putting batteries in carryon is a pretty minor step to ensure that the rare event is minor instead of serious when it does happen
Lithium ion batteries are always a risk for catching on fire
As a general rule, fire hazards are not permitted in the cargo compartment of passenger airlines
A fire in the cabin can be spotted and dealt with quickly. A fire in the cargo compartment runs the risk of not being caught until too late
The risk of fire is low but just putting batteries in carryon is a pretty minor step to ensure that the rare event is minor instead of serious when it does happen
They are not any more at risk of igniting on a plane, but the consequences if it does happen are potentially a lot more severe. Especially so if they ignite in the cargo hold where it’s more difficult to both detect, and extinguish any fire that might break out.
This is also why you’re told not to adjust your seat (and get a flight attendant) if you drop your phone in it – the adjustment mechanisms could puncture the battery.
This video is a great (but long!) discussion of an accident caused by lithium battery cargo.
They are not any more at risk of igniting on a plane, but the consequences if it does happen are potentially a lot more severe. Especially so if they ignite in the cargo hold where it’s more difficult to both detect, and extinguish any fire that might break out.
This is also why you’re told not to adjust your seat (and get a flight attendant) if you drop your phone in it – the adjustment mechanisms could puncture the battery.
This video is a great (but long!) discussion of an accident caused by lithium battery cargo.
A battery in general can be unstable, so they want you to have batteries in a place you can react to it..like the hand luggage.. because you will notice the smoke etc
If they catch fire in the luggage..well you can’t exactly react to it when it happens
A battery in general can be unstable, so they want you to have batteries in a place you can react to it..like the hand luggage.. because you will notice the smoke etc
If they catch fire in the luggage..well you can’t exactly react to it when it happens
It’s not an issue of an increased risk, but it’s an issue that a battery fire in a plane in the air can is extremely difficult to take care of and endangers the entire plane and it’s passengers.
Large excess batteries are often prohibited in checked luggage since a fire in the luggage hold would be impossible to reach by flight attendants
It’s not an issue of an increased risk, but it’s an issue that a battery fire in a plane in the air can is extremely difficult to take care of and endangers the entire plane and it’s passengers.
Large excess batteries are often prohibited in checked luggage since a fire in the luggage hold would be impossible to reach by flight attendants
It’s not that they are more likely to catch fire, it’s that *if* the battery catches fire there’s a good chance a lot of people are going to die.
So either, we allow people to bring batteries on planes and then every once and a while (not sure how often) we hear a story about 100+ that died because a battery somewhere in the cargo hold caught fire.
Or we just tell people to not bring a battery on a plane in checked luggage. Something almost nobody needs to do.
We chose the latter.
These kind of risk assessments are very common, and the airline industry is pretty unique just because of how *often* they pick safety.
It’s not that they are more likely to catch fire, it’s that *if* the battery catches fire there’s a good chance a lot of people are going to die.
So either, we allow people to bring batteries on planes and then every once and a while (not sure how often) we hear a story about 100+ that died because a battery somewhere in the cargo hold caught fire.
Or we just tell people to not bring a battery on a plane in checked luggage. Something almost nobody needs to do.
We chose the latter.
These kind of risk assessments are very common, and the airline industry is pretty unique just because of how *often* they pick safety.
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