United Flight Downed By Fraudulent Li-ion Battery Pack

We found the dangerous and potentially deadly Li-ion battery packs sold on Amazon

March 12, 2020, Los Angeles, CA – A United Airlines flight with 135 onboard above the Atlantic Ocean off Florida was forced into an emergency landing late February when a Li-ion battery ignited in what the airline described as a "thermal runaway event." The incident forced the pilot into a 25-minute emergency diversion to Daytona Beach Airport in Florida. No injuries occurred during the incident.

Battery fires aboard aircraft are increasingly problematic as passengers bring more personal electronic devices with them, such as smartphones, laptops, tablets, e-cigarettes, and e-readers. The slightest damage to the ultrathin electrolyte or case separators can create a short circuit that can generate enough heat to make the cell catch fire. The temperature of the fire may overheat adjacent cells, resulting in a chain reaction that can easily cause the whole battery pack to explode.

In 2019, the US barred lithium batteries from being taken as cargo or in checked luggage on passenger aircraft. However, Li-ion batteries are often illegally shipped or mailed in improper packaging or without required disclosure to the carrier.

While some travelers may dismiss the incident as an isolated event, there had been 268 incidents involving lithium batteries reported to the FAA between 2006 and January 22, 2020. In the United States alone, a fire in a lithium-ion battery grounds a flight every 10-days on average, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

Airline crews now carry a thermal containment bag — a fire-resistant container to contain battery fires and put the fire out.

The Counterfeit Report, an award-winning consumer advocate and counterfeit watchdog, has purchased hundreds of fraudulent 18650 Li-ion batteries from Amazon as a direct seller and took a look at the e-commerce giant's website. Finding what appeared to be the identical Li-ion battery pack, two of the battery-packs were purchased from Amazon as a direct seller. The fraudulent battery tested at just half of the stated 10,000mAh capacity -- 5,100mAh.

Actual United incident batteries - Photo provided by WFTV Orlando

Battery packs purchased from Amazon by The Counterfeit Report.

Despite hundreds of notifications to Amazon, and Amazon acknowledging two legal notices over a one year period, Amazon continues to sell the dangerous and potentially deadly 18650 battery cells and Li-ion battery packs. Amazon policy prohibits the sale of all 18650 Li-ion cells on the website, yet they remain.

Consumers receiving a fraudulent 18650 Li-ion battery should stop using it immediately. Do not mail, ship, disassemble, or throw the battery in the trash. Find a qualified recycler or drop-off. You may be responsible for an injury or death, and in violation of federal law. Notify the e-commerce website and the seller when you receive a fraudulent battery and demand a refund, or cancel the charge on your credit card or Pay-Pal account. You may have additional legal remedies.