Summary

  • E-cigarette sales have been rising, with disposable devices and youth-appealing flavors becoming more popular.
  • Battery-related incidents on flights have been increasing, with the FAA registering 63 lithium battery incidents this year thus far.
  • Passengers are required to take precautions when traveling with e-cigarettes but still can carry them onboard aircraft.


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Over the past few years, there have been an increasing number of battery-related fires on aircraft. At the same time, more and more people have taken up smoking e-cigarettes, also known as ‘vapes,’ including disposable e-cigarettes. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a study in June 2023, which concluded that e-cigarette sales climbed 46% between January 2020 and December 2022, with 15.5 million and 22.7 million units sold, respectively. “Prefilled devices decreased, while disposable devices increased; and sales of youth-appealing flavors—such as fruit, candy, and desserts—increased,” the CDC noted.


Safety hazard on flights

According to data from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), in 2014, there were nine lithium battery incidents. By 2016, the number rose to 32, increasing to 50 two years later. While the number of incidents decreased over the next few years, in 2021, it climbed back to 54, jumping to 75 in 2022. Until October 27, 2023, the FAA had registered 63 lithium battery incidents for the year.

A Man using a vape outside of an airport terminal.

Photo: Roman Kosolapov | Shutterstock

The regulator noted that these incidents are related to “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 FAA also provides detailed reports of its known incidents. For example, on a Delta Air Lines flight from Atlanta Hartsfield–Jackson International Airport (ATL) to Monterrey International Airport (MTY), “a passenger’s vape device began to overheat” on October 24, 2023.

“The vape device was placed in a thermal containment bag,” the FAA continued, adding that the flight continued to its destination without further incident. During another flight between London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and Dallas Fort/Worth International Airport (DFW), operated by American Airlines, the same thing happened on October 11, 2023.

Smoke in the cabin of an aircraft.

Photo: Try_my_best | Shutterstock

In total, airlines have reported 19 incidents related to e-cigarettes or vape devices Year-To-Date (YTD) in 2023. A year prior, there have been 29 incidents when such devices began to overheat or emit smoke.

According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), such devices are only allowed in carry-on baggage. “Passengers are required to take effective measures for preventing accidental activation of the heating element of the device when transporting the devices,” the TSA highlighted. The FAA has provided tips on preventing potential fires of e-cigarettes, such as “removing the battery from the electronic smoking device; separating the battery from the heating coil” or “placing the electronic smoking device into a protective case.”

“Electronics or technology in the device designed to prevent accidental activation, such as those requiring the electronic smoking device to be powered on before the heating coil button can be activated.”

A sign pointing to the smoking area at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.

Photo: Stephen Barnes | Shutterstock

In addition, the TSA noted that a lithium-ion battery “must not exceed a Watt-hour (Wh) rating of 100 Wh; or for lithium metal batteries, a lithium content of 2 grams.” For example, American Airlines has outlined that passengers can bring e-cigarettes onboard aircraft, but travelers are “not allowed to use them onboard any flight,” with the airline recommending “traveling with them in a designated carry case.”

Have you ever been on a flight when an e-cigarette or a vape device caught on fire or began emitting smoke?

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