Southwest Airlines is tightening its rules for passengers who are in wheelchairs and scooters that are powered by lithium batteries.
They have to remove them before getting on flights. That decision comes after the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration issued a safety alert on lithium batteries on August 25.
According to Reuters, the airline announced on September 12 that it will require passengers “to take out removable lithium batteries from powered wheelchairs and scooters before boarding, citing fire risks.”
The regulation goes into effect on September 25, Reuters reported.
Lithium Batteries Are a Common Source of ‘Smoke & Fire Incidents on Aircraft,’ Southwest Airlines Wrote
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“Lithium batteries have become one of the most common sources of smoke and fire incidents on aircraft. While these events are rare, quick access and visibility are critical to keeping everyone onboard safe,” Southwest wrote its employees in a note obtained by Reuters.
“By taking proactive steps now, Southwest will be among the first U.S. carriers to adopt these higher standards.”
The safety alert from the FAA outlined 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.”
The alert warned, “Lithium batteries (including power banks and portable chargers) can act as ignition sources and potentially start onboard fires. Lithium batteries stored in passenger overhead bins and or in carry-on baggage may be obscured, difficult to access, or not readily monitored by passengers or crewmembers.”
The alert suggested that airlines “advise passengers on what lithium batteries are, where they are found, how thermal runaway occurs, and the associated risks.”
According to CNN, lithium batteries are also found in “Cell phones, laptops, portable power banks, e-cigarettes, and hearing aids.” The FAA counted “50 verified battery-related incidents through August,” CNN reported.
