Fire on board Hawaiian Airlines flight triggers emergency response

On Thursday, Hawaiian Airlines Flight 26, flying between Honolulu and Portland en route across the Pacific, experienced an onboard fire. The frightening incident, caused by a passenger's iPad battery, sent smoke billowing through the cabin of the Airbus A330. When the flight landed at 8:45 p.m., it was met by an emergency response team. This followed other recent lithium-ion battery fires on aircraft.

Details of the battery fire on Hawaiian Flight 26.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that the flight crew reported the battery fire during the flight. After landing, the Portland Airport Fire Department responded quickly and ensured that the overheated battery was safely “contained” after it was “identified.” The entire situation was handled without injuries or further complications, underscoring the effectiveness of Hawaiian Airlines' crew training and emergency response.

A new trend in lithium battery fires.

This Hawaiian Airlines incident follows another case in July, when an American Airlines plane taking off from San Francisco had to be evacuated after a laptop fire was discovered in a passenger's bag. In that incident, too, crew responded quickly to contain the fire and no injuries were reported on board the plane that had not yet taken off. This year, Southwest, Breeze and other airlines have also had incidents. These incidents highlight the dangers of lithium battery fires on planes as more travelers carry them, leading to growing safety concerns in the airline industry.

The average passenger brings four rechargeable devices on board.

According to a report from Underwriters Laboratories, incidents involving lithium-ion batteries have reached their highest level in five years, with an average of two thermal runaway cases per week. The study also found that nearly 87% of these incidents occur in the cabin, often in and around passengers' seats. E-cigarettes accounted for 35% of reported incidents on passenger flights in 2023, followed by power banks with another 16%. Fortunately, most incidents are addressed before “thermal runaway” occurs. UL said that “most (85%) incidents in 2023 were addressed when the batteries showed warning signs such as overheating and smoke.”

FAA battery safety guidelines for air travelers.

Given the increasing number of aviation incidents, the FAA emphasizes several safety precautions for passengers flying with lithium-ion batteries:

• Always keep electronic devices and batteries close to you in the cabin and not in checked baggage so that you can access them quickly in an emergency.
• Be alert and notify the flight crew immediately if any battery or device shows signs of excessive heat, expansion, smoking, or burning.
• Do not leave devices unattended while charging and check batteries regularly for signs of damage.

These measures can help prevent dangerous situations. Flight crews are trained to quickly extinguish battery fires using thermal bags and other safety measures. Details of the specific measures Hawaiian Airlines took to contain this week's onboard fire are not yet available.

Importance of awareness and safety training.

The incident on Hawaiian Airlines Flight 26 reminds us how important it is for passengers and flight crew to be aware of and properly handle devices containing lithium-ion batteries. The quick and efficient response of the Hawaiian Airlines crew ensured the safety of everyone on board. Hats off to them.

The airline industry and the FAA are reportedly considering implementing additional safety measures to protect passengers, and this Hawaiian Airlines measure is a reminder of the potential risks of flying with electronic devices.

We look forward to your input!