The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a safety alert on Tuesday warning of the risk of uncontrollable fires associated with lithium batteries.

Spare lithium batteries are generally prohibited in checked luggage, but even in carry-on baggage, they can malfunction and pose a risk to passengers and crew members.

Lithium batteries are also often found in cell phones, computers, portable chargers, hearing aids and other devices, which can malfunction and create “thermal runaway events,” where pressure and temperature rapidly increase and can ignite a fire onboard.

The FAA said this is particularly dangerous when batteries are not in plain sight.

“Lithium batteries stored in passenger overhead bins and or in carry-on baggage, may be obscured, difficult to access, or not readily mo

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