The FAA has proposed fines totaling more than $300,000 against three companies who shipped lithium ion batteries by air allegedly without properly declared them. In two of the cases, the batteries caught fire in a sorting facility before they were loaded on an airplane. “None of the shipments were properly classed, described, packaged, marked, labeled, or in the proper condition for shipment,” the FAA said in statements regarding each case. Without the proper labeling, the batteries would have ended up with nonhazardous cargo in the hold of the plane where it would have been inaccessible to crew.
Mobile Sentrix, of Manassas, Virginia, faces the largest proposed civil penalty for four separate alleged violations. On Aug. 8, 2024, smoke started coming from a package shipped by Mobile Sentrix at a FedEx facility. Three of 25 batteries in the shipment were found melted together after catching fire. Three more shipments from September to November of 2024 were found to contain a total of about 50 pounds of cellphone batteries. LG Energy Solutions is being hit with a proposed penalty of $60,000 for shipping five batteries by FedEx, one of which melted down in the unlabeled package. Mokwheel Bikes, of Ontario, California is looking at a $74,250 fine for trying to send batteries to China, but it doesn’t appear any of them caught fire.
Now we’re talking! Except apply that level of fine to passengers carrying Li batteries in luggage, checked or otherwise. Make it very clear and public that if you think medical bills will bankrupt you, try getting caught with a Lithium battery onboard.