SEPTEMBER 2025

“Hazmat Highlights” is the FAA’s Office of Hazardous Materials Safety monthly newsletter with public updates from government sources related to the safe transportation of hazardous materials by air.

SAFO 25002: Managing the Risks of Lithium Batteries Carried by Passengers and Crewmembers

The FAA issued Safety Alert for Operators (SAFO) 25002: Managing the Risks of Lithium Batteries Carried by Passengers and Crewmembers. This SAFO highlights the risks associated with the carriage of lithium batteries in aircraft passenger compartments. In addition, it emphasizes the importance of identifying all potential hazards and implementing appropriate risk mitigation strategies to manage lithium battery thermal runaway events, which are self-sustaining uncontrolled increases in pressure and temperature. 

Read SAFO 25002 here.

Click here to find more OperateSafe Resources for Air Carriers.

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Lithium Battery Watt Hour Calculator

Not sure if your rechargeable batteries are safe to fly? Use our PackSafe Watt-Hour Calculator to ensure your devices meet aviation safety regulations.

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FAA on X: Fire Safety Expert Dr. Robert Ochs

View the full video of Dr. Ochs discussing lithium battery safety on X.

FAA Proposes $170,000 Civil Penalty Against Mobile Sentrix for Alleged HazMat Violations 

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposes a $170,000 civil penalty against Mobile Sentrix of Manassas, Virginia, for allegedly violating the hazardous materials regulations.   

The FAA alleges the company offered the following undeclared and improperly packaged shipments to FedEx for air transportation: 

• Aug. 8, 2024: Approximately twenty-five mobile phone lithium-ion batteries. The package was emitting smoke and smelled of burning. Inspection of the contents revealed a fire had occurred and three of the batteries had melted together. 
• Sept.17, 2024: Approximately 3.6 kg of mobile phone lithium-ion batteries.  
• Sept. 26, 2024: Approximately 11.5 kg of mobile phone lithium-ion batteries. 
• Nov. 1, 2024: Approximately 9 kg of mobile phone lithium-ion batteries. 

None of the shipments were properly classed, described, packaged, marked, labeled, or in the proper condition for shipment, the FAA alleges. 

Mobile Sentrix asked to meet with the FAA to discuss the case.  

FAA Proposes $74,250 Civil Penalty Against Mokwheel Bikes for Alleged HazMat Violations

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposes a $74,250 civil penalty against Mokwheel Bikes, Inc., for allegedly violating the hazardous materials regulations.  

The FAA alleges on Dec. 26, 2023, the Ontario, California-based company offered an undeclared hazardous materials shipment containing lithium-ion batteries to United Parcel Service (UPS) for air transportation from Ontario to Shenzhen, China.   

The FAA alleges Mokwheel did not declare it as dangerous goods and the shipment was not properly classed, described, marked, labeled, or packaged to prevent sparks or a dangerous evolution of heat. The FAA also alleges the company failed to ensure its employees received the required hazardous materials training and failed to include emergency response information in shipping papers.   

UPS personnel discovered the shipment at the company’s sorting facility in Anchorage, Alaska.   

Mokwheel Bikes has received the FAA’s enforcement letter. 

FAA Proposes $60,000 Civil Penalty Against LG Energy Solution for Alleged Hazardous Materials Violations

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposes a $60,000 civil penalty against LG Energy Solution of Seoul, South Korea, for allegedly violating the hazardous materials regulations.   

The FAA alleges on Jan. 4, 2024, the company offered an undeclared and improperly packaged and labeled shipment of five lithium-ion batteries from Seoul to Los Angeles. FedEx personnel discovered the shipment when it emitted heat, smoke, ember, and flames in its sorting facility in Irvine, California. One or more of the lithium-ion batteries was charred and melted.  

LG Energy Solution has 30 days after receiving the FAA’s enforcement letter to respond to the agency.  

Click here to view all FAA Press Releases.

Lithium Battery Air Incidents

Note: These are lithium battery related events involving smoke, fire, or extreme heat that the FAA is aware of and should not be considered a complete listing of all such incidents. The methods of collecting and recording these incidents and the data involved has changed over the life span of this chart as the FAA’s Office of Hazardous Materials Safety has evolved. The incident summaries included here are intended to be brief and objective. They do not represent all information the FAA has collected, nor do they include all investigative or enforcement action taken. This chart was last updated on September 15, 2025.

You can find all prior ACs, SAFOs, InFos, Orders & Notices, and other Dynamic Regulatory System (DRS) material by clicking on the buttons below.

RECENT NOTICES

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PHMSA INTERPRETATIONS

You can find all PHMSA Interpretations by clicking here.

Innovative Method to Safely Deactivate Batteries

We're excited to announce the publication of PHMSA-funded work conducted by the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL). This groundbreaking paper details a new method for safely removing residual energy from used batteries— a major step toward safer handling and transport of end-of-life lithium-ion cells. 

Residual energy in end-of-life batteries can pose serious risks, including the potential for fire and the release of toxic gases during storage and shipping. While current deactivation options exist, many are either slow, difficult to apply in the field, or carry safety risks of their own. The NRL team's new approach addresses these limitations with a simple, effective method that neutralizes multiple battery types efficiently. 

In testing, this technique significantly reduced the hazards associated with residual energy—eliminating thermal runaway events and drastically decreasing the release of flammable and toxic gases. The solution could reshape how the industry handles battery deactivation and disposal, making the process safer, faster, and more scalable. 

Read the full paper and explore the future of battery safety here.

PHMSA's Newsroom

Read the latest from PHMSA's newsroom by clicking here.

OSHA Fact Sheet: Lithium-ion Battery Safety

Lithium-ion batteries are one type of rechargeable battery technology (other examples include sodium ion and solid state) that supplies power to many devices we use daily. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the manufacturing and industrial use of these batteries due to their superior energy storage characteristics. This increased use of lithium-ion batteries in workplaces requires an increased understanding of the health and safety hazards associated with these devices. Read the full Fact Sheet here.

RECALL: Anker Power Banks  Date: September 18, 2025 Hazard: The lithium-ion battery in the power bank can overheat, posing fire and burn hazards to consumers. Read more about this recall.

RECALL: Arizer Solo II Portable Vaporizers Date: September 18, 2025 Hazard: The internal lithium-ion battery can overheat, produce smoke, and/or eject material, posing fire and burn hazards. Read more about this recall.

Click here to view recent recalls by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

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