The UK CAA put out a battery advisory related to shipping Christmas gifts containing lithium batteries.

The danger posed by lithium batteries to the safety of passenger aircraft was highlighted today by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), as it issued advice on sending Christmas presents by airmail or carrying them in luggage on flights. The aviation safety regulator reminded anyone posting gifts, or taking them on board an aircraft as either hand or hold baggage, that certain items are dangerous in the confined, pressurized surroundings of an aircraft.

Lithium batteries, in particular, are a growing safety concern to the aviation industry. This follows a number of incidents in which batteries that had not been treated appropriately are believed to have started fires on aircraft. Such batteries are used in the majority of portable electronic devices, such as MP3 players, digital cameras, electronic readers, camcorders and laptop computers.
Last month a mobile phone caught fire on a Boeing 747 inbound to London Heathrow after being crushed by a seat as a passenger reclined. Cabin crew were able to extinguish the fire before any serious damage occurred.
When installed correctly, lithium batteries are unlikely to cause a problem, but they do pose a serious risk of short circuiting – which can lead to a fire – if packed loose. Overheating can also occur if the device in which they are installed activates inadvertently in-flight.
Lithium batteries, even when contained in equipment, are not permitted in airmail and, since letters and parcels sent in the post will often be carried on aircraft even for relatively short domestic journeys (particularly ‘next day’ services), such items are not permitted at all by Royal Mail. Counterfeit batteries, without the necessary inbuilt safety features, are also a serious and growing concern.
Geoff Leach, Manager of the Dangerous Goods Office at the CAA, said: “Over the coming weeks many people will be sending gifts in the post. If these presents are electronic devices, we urge the sender not to include any lithium batteries. We have seen a number of serious incidents in the last couple of years in which these batteries are believed to have started fires in cargo shipments. Some lithium batteries are permitted in passenger baggage, but specific conditions apply; details of these can be found on the CAA web site.”