28% increase in lithium-ion battery overheating incidents on flights, primarily from e-cigarettes, despite prohibition in checked luggage.

A UL Standards report reveals a 28% increase in lithium-ion battery overheating incidents on flights from 2019 to 2023, primarily involving e-cigarettes. Despite being prohibited in checked luggage, over a quarter of passengers admitted to packing these devices in violation of federal rules. The FAA reported 37 thermal-runaway events this year, marking a 71% rise since 2019. Carry-on storage is recommended due to the difficulty of detecting fires in cargo holds.