An advisory panel of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has recommended strict actions for discouraging bulk shipment of lithium batteries through commercial planes.
The recommendations were published by the ICAO on October 1, after a recent meeting of the advisory group was held in Cologne, Germany, in September.
The group has also suggested to re-assess the fire detection systems in terms of their ability of respond quickly and to limit the battery shipments to cargo compartments with excellent fire-suppression capability.
In July 2010, 2 people were killed after a shipment of batteries caught fire and caused a Boeing Co 747 cargo plane, operated by United Parcel Service Inc., to crash in Dubai.

Norwegian Air Shuttle flight DY-7064 had to return and make an emergency landing at Oakland International Airport, Alameda County, California, on July 22nd.
United Airlines flight UA-1219 had to divert and make an emergency landing in San Francisco, California, on January 14th.
Air France flight AF-671 was intercepted by two Italian fighter jets over Italy, on March 22nd.