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Air Cargo Lithium-ion Battery Incidents Rise

[ March 13, 2026   //   Gary Burrows ]

A new report from UL Standards & Engagement says incidents involving lithium-ion batteries in air cargo have increased 40 percent since 2021, highlighting growing safety concerns as global demand for battery-powered products continues to surge.

The study, released March 10, draws on incident reports from airlines participating in the organization’s Thermal Runaway Incident Program database, along with interviews and focus groups conducted across the cargo supply chain.

Researchers said the findings suggest that gaps in battery quality, shipper awareness and regulatory oversight are contributing to the rise in incidents, particularly thermal runaway events – a condition in which batteries overheat and can ignite.

“Lithium batteries power modern life, but they also present a growing and preventable risk in air cargo,” said Bob McClelland, transportation safety lead, in a statement. He said the increase reflects “identifiable gaps” in manufacturing quality, shipper knowledge and supply chain accountability.

The report says small and individual shippers often lack expertise in hazardous materials regulations and frequently rely on carriers to identify improperly declared shipments. That dynamic, researchers said, shifts risk downstream to airlines and cargo handlers.

The study also found that geographic factors can influence risk. According to the report, more than half of incidents with known origins began at a small group of Asian airports – which also handle a large share of global battery shipments – raising concerns about variations in manufacturing quality and regulatory enforcement.

Because battery shipments typically pass through multiple parties – manufacturers, freight forwarders, airlines and others – accountability for safety compliance can become fragmented, the report said.

“This system is built on trust,” researchers wrote, noting that each participant in the supply chain often assumes previous parties have followed safety rules.

The report recommends establishing clearer responsibility for safety across the supply chain, expanding education for shippers and strengthening global coordination among regulators and industry groups.

Emily Brimsek, senior manager of qualitative insights, said interviews conducted for the study consistently pointed to the need for stronger shared responsibility for safety.

The report is based on interviews and focus groups with 36 participants across the cargo sector conducted between June and October 2025, along with incident data from 2021 through 2025 and consumer survey research involving more than 12,000 U.S. adults.

Tags: UL Standardsn & Engagement