AAL — In-Flight Fires From Lithium-Ion Batteries A Growing Aviation Safety Threat

Airlines and regulators identify spontaneously combusting lithium-ion batteries in personal devices as the fastest-growing safety risk in air travel. Incidents in the U.S. have more than doubled since 2019, with 2026 on track for a new record. In response, major carriers like American, Delta, and Lufthansa have banned power banks from overhead bins and restricted their in-flight use to mitigate the fire hazard.