FAA Hits Three Shippers with $430K in Hazmat Violations

Key Details The Federal Aviation Administration announced civil penalties totaling nearly $430,000 against three companies for failing to properly package and label hazardous materials shipments sent by air. Verizon faces a $70,500 fine for shipping lithium-ion batteries to FedEx without required classification, packaging, markings, and emergency response information in May 2024. World Event Promotions of Florida received a $260,000 penalty after UPS discovered smoking battery packs at a sorting facility in Ontario, California. Why It Matters Lithium-ion batteries pose a significant fire risk in aircraft cargo holds, and undeclared shipments remain difficult to detect physically. Improper shipping practices create serious safety threats to flight crews and passengers. The violations included missing documentation, incorrect state of charge levels, and untrained employees accepting hazmat materials. Additional Enforcement Devinaire Industries in Oregon faces a $97,500 fine for shipping radiopharmaceutical materials without proper employee training or complete shipping documentation. The company also failed to maintain required records for pilots and regulators. All three companies have 30 days to respond to FAA enforcement letters.