Assessment of Fire Risk and Extinguishment Protocol of Lithium-Ion Battery Fires in Commercial Aircraft - Virginia R. Charter, PhD, PE, FSFPE
12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Fire Protection Engineering Department
Assessment of Fire Risk and Extinguishment Protocol of Lithium-Ion Battery Fires in Commercial Aircraft
Virginia R. Charter, PhD, PE, FSFPE
Associate Professor & Program Coordinator
Dale Janes Endowed Professor
Fire Protection and Safety Engineering Technology
Oklahoma State University
Monday, March 16, 2026
12:00 – 1:00 pm EST
Zoom Link: https://wpi.zoom.us/j/98322941557
Abstract
Lithium-ion battery fires on aircraft have increased 178% from 2016 to 2024 (FAA, 2025). These
batteries presented a critical safety challenge due to the potential for thermal runaway that could
result in fire, explosion, and toxic gas release. Current Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
regulations permit passengers to carry one 300 Wh mobility aid battery and two 160 Wh spares,
totaling 620 Wh per person. However, limited data exists regarding the effectiveness of onboard
extinguishing systems against such high-energy failures. This research was intended to evaluate the
performance of standard aircraft fire suppression methods when applied to lithium-ion battery
thermal runaway events. Preliminary testing involved inducing mechanical and thermal failures in
common personal use and mobility aid batteries. This characterized fire behavior and explosion
risk of the batteries. Results showed that large 300 Wh batteries produced 24-inch flame jets and
high-velocity shrapnel, posing severe hazards to passengers, crew, and cabin materials. Building
on these findings, a full-scale experiment including five tests to assess how a larger mobility aid
watt hour battery failure affected aircraft components - including luggage, seats, overhead bins,
Passenger Service Units, and oxygen generators. Standard onboard extinguishing procedures using
Halon 1211 and water were applied. The outcome of this test found that current onboard
extinguishment methods were insufficient in suppressing fires from 300 Wh lithium-ion mobility
aid batteries. These results will be used to guide future onboard safety protocols across the
commercial airline industry. It may also influence future FAA policy regarding allowable lithium ion
battery capacity on commercial flights.
Bio
Dr. Virginia Charter is an Associate Professor and Program Coordinator for the Fire Protection and Safety Engineering Technology program at Oklahoma State University. She obtained her BS in FPSET from OSU, her MS in Fire Protection Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and her PhD in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies – Higher Education from OSU. Prior to her position at OSU, she practiced as a consulting and design engineer for nine years in Las Vegas, Nevada. She has worked on many of the infamous Strip properties planning for and evaluation of fire protection, life safety, and risk control systems. Her research is focused on areas that impact fire protection system effectiveness, water supplies, building and fire codes and standards, and engineering education. She is a licensed professional engineer in Nevada, California, and Oklahoma. She serves the profession through several NFPA standard committees, the UL Fire Council, and SFPE. She is currently a Director of the SFPE Board of Directors. She is a Fellow member in SFPE.