*Delta Airlines Flight 1334 in route from Atlanta to Fort Lauderdale, in the United States, is diverted after a passenger’s backpack battery ignited mid-flight, underscoring increasing concerns over the safety of travellers鈥� use of lithium-ion batteries on aircraft

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

In what has been described as one of the latest in a series of close calls involving batteries, US aviation authorities Monday, July 7, 2025 鈥渇orcefully diverted鈥� Delta Airlines Flight 1334, after a passenger’s backpack battery ignited mid-flight.

Though no injuries reported, the flight crew swiftly contained the fire on board.

绿帽献妻 reports aviation experts have said the Delta Airlines鈥� incident again, has underscored rising concerns over lithium-ion battery safety on aircraft in the aviation sector.

Lithium-ion batteries, such as those powering cellphones, can pose a threat on aircraft because they can overhead and ignite, stated analysts.

Delta Air Lines Flight 1334, in route from Atlanta to Fort Lauderdale, in the United States (US), was forced to make an emergency landing in Fort Myers Monday as the incident prompted immediate action from the flight crew.

The leading airline in a statement reported that flight attendants extinguished the fire quickly, but declared an emergency 鈥渙ut of an abundance of caution鈥�.

According to communications between the cockpit and air traffic control, the device was inside a backpack when it began to smoke on board, agency report also said.

The Delta pilot told the Air Traffic Control Tower: 鈥淥k, so the backpack has been contained.

鈥淲e think it was a lithium battery that caused the smoke and the fire. It鈥檚 in a containment bag.

鈥淣o smoke in the cabin at this point. No active fire. It鈥檚 in the lavatory. We鈥檙e planning on taxiing clear of the runway.鈥�

Report also indicated that as troubling trend in the aviation industry, since 2015, lithium-ion battery incidents involving smoke, fire, or extreme heat have become 鈥渋ncreasingly common on commercial aircraft鈥�.

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has documented over 500 such events, with a notable rise in recent years. Below is a selection of significant incidents:

Notable lithium-ion battery incidents on commercial aircraft (2015鈥�2025)

Date	Airline	Flight Route	Device Involved	Outcome
Feb 7, 2023	United Airlines	San Diego to Newark	External battery pack	Fire in cabin; flight returned to San Diego; four passengers hospitalised.
Mar 1, 2023	Spirit Airlines	Dallas to Orlando	Lithium-ion battery	Fire in overhead compartment; emergency landing in Jacksonville.
Feb 24, 2025	Batik Air	Johor Bahru to Bangkok	Power bank	Smoke filled cabin; crew extinguished fire; flight continued safely.
Apr 25, 2025	JetBlue	Fort Lauderdale to Nassau	Portable charger	Device ignited mid-flight; crew extinguished fire; safe landing.
Mar 20, 2025	Hong Kong Airlines	Hangzhou to Hong Kong	Power bank	Overhead bin fire; emergency landing in Fuzhou; no injuries.

Aviation regulators strict rule enforcement

In response to the increasing frequency of these incidents, airlines and regulatory bodies worldwide are implementing stricter measures, report stated.

For instance, Southwest Airlines recently, announced a policy requiring passengers to keep 鈥減ortable chargers visible鈥� during flights in order to allow for quick intervention in case of overheating mid-flight.

Besides, the FAA has continued to advise passengers to carry lithium-ion batteries in their carry-on luggage, and to avoid placing them in checked baggage.

The US aviation regulators have also recommended that passengers inform flight crews immediately, if they notice any signs of battery malfunction, such as overheating or smoke.

Kindly Share This Story