FAA fines companies $430K for sending unsafe hazmat shipments to airlines
FAA fined Verizon, World Event Promotions, and Devinaire Industries a combined $430K for improper air shipment of lithium-ion batteries and radiopharmaceuticals via FedEx and UPS in 2024-2025. One UPS package was found smoking with a burn hole at the Ontario, CA sorting facility.
Regulators are actively escalating hazmat enforcement on air freight — sellers shipping lithium batteries (power banks, e-bikes, electronics) via FedEx/UPS air services face heightened scrutiny and potential shipment rejection or fines. Audit your outbound lithium battery shipments now to confirm SOC is under 30%, packaging is compliant, and emergency response info is included on every label.
Regulatory pressure on lithium battery logistics is intensifying, adding compliance overhead and potential carrier rejection risk for electronics and battery-category sellers — part of a broader shift toward stricter hazmat accountability across air freight networks.
Check lithium battery shipment specs in your 3PL or carrier account — if state of charge exceeds 30% rated capacity on air shipments, you're in violation territory; correct before next air tender.
Within 30 days, verify all staff handling outbound hazmat are trained and that shipping papers are retained on file per FAA requirements to avoid penalty exposure.
Bottom Line
FAA hazmat crackdown means lithium battery sellers face real fine risk on air shipments.
Source Lens
Industry Context
Useful background context, but lower-priority than direct platform, community, or operator intelligence.
Impact Level
medium
FAA hazmat crackdown means lithium battery sellers face real fine risk on air shipments.
Key Stat / Trigger
$260,000 proposed penalty against World Event Promotions for non-compliant lithium battery air shipments
Focus on the operational implication, not just the headline.
Full Coverage
The Federal Aviation Administration on Tuesday said it intends to fine three shippers, including Verizon, a combined total of nearly $430,000 for not following rules for shipping hazardous materials by air.
Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) is potentially subject to a $70,500 civil penalty for allegedly tendering three shipments of lithium-ion batteries to FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) in May 2024 without the required classification, description, packaging, markings, and labels.
The batteries also were not in the proper condition for transport and Verizon didn’t provide required emergency response information to the carrier, the FAA said in a news release. Currently, there are few means to physically check for undeclared lithium batteries, posing one of the biggest threats to flight safety due to their fire risk.
United Parcel Service (NYSE: UPS) was also the victim of a dangerous shipping situation. The FAA said it has proposed a $260,000 civil penalty against World Event Promotions of Coral Gables, Florida, for allegedly violating hazardous materials regulations.
The agency said WEP offered three shipments of battery packs containing lithium-ion batteries to UPS for transport by air. In one instance, employees at the UPS sorting facility in Ontario, California, discovered the shipment was smoking, with a burn hole in the package. A United Nations warning sticker for lithium battery shipments.
(Image: Shutterstock/Brett Hondow) The FAA alleges the materials were not accompanied by the required shipping paperwork and lacked the same information as the Verizon shipments. The agency also alleged that the state of charge of the lithium batteries exceeded 30% of their rated capacity.
The FAA has also notified Devinaire Industries, based in Hillsboro, Oregon, that it intends to fine the company $97,500 for non-compliant shipments on two flights in January 2025. Debonair accepted two shipments of radiopharmaceutical materials for transportation by air. Drugs that contain radioactive substances are classified as hazardous material.
The FAA alleges Devinaire failed to ensure its employees who accepted these shipments were trained in transporting hazmat and the shipping papers didn’t include a description of the physical and chemical form of the radioactive material.
Regulators also claim the company didn’t keep the shipping papers and information provided to the pilots on file for the required amount of time. The companies each have 30 days to respond to enforcement letters. The FAA penalized three companies in September for violating hazmat shipping regulations with lithium batteries transported by FedEx and UPS.
Click here for more FreightWaves/American Shipper stories by Eric Kulisch. Write to Eric Kulisch at ekulisch@freightwaves. com. RELATED STORIES: FAA fines firms for unsafe lithium-ion battery shipments on cargo jets The post FAA fines companies $430K for sending unsafe hazmat shipments to airlines appeared first on FreightWaves.
Original Source
This briefing is based on reporting from Freightwaves. Use the original post for full primary-source context.
Style
Audience