Hazardous Materials Carried by Airline Passengers and Crewmembers A
Hazardous Materials
Carried by Airline Passengers
and Crewmembers
Prepared by the FAA Ofce of Hazardous Materials Safety (www.faa.gov/go/hazmatsafety)
Updated November 25, 2015 (previous editions obsolete)
49 CFR §175.10 Illustrated
In general, U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations prohibit
passengers and crewmembers from carrying hazardous materials
(dangerous goods) aboard commercial aircraft. The table inside lists the
exceptions that allow passengers and crewmembers to carry a limited
amount of hazardous materials in carry-on and/or checked baggage.
Though allowable by DOT regulations (see 49 CFR, section 175.10),
some of the items listed here may, at times, be prohibited/limited in the
aircraft cabin by Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security
rules (see www.tsa.gov). Individual airlines and other nations may
also have more restrictive rules on what passengers can carry aboard
the aircraft. See www.faa.gov/go/packsafe for additional guidance on
hazmat in baggage.
Refer to CFR 49 Parts 100-185 for requirements.
In addition, exemptions issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation
may apply in certain situations.
Hazardous Materials Carried by Airline Passengers and Crewmembers 1
Passenger
Hazmat Exception
Allowed NotAllowed
Toiletry and
medicinal articles
including flammable
and nonflammable
aerosols when nozzles
are protected
Additional
nonflammable
aerosols
that are not
medicinal or toilet
articles
Note: Nonflammable
aerosols are rare.
Toiletry or medicinal articles that are
hazardous materials such as rubbing alcohol,
flammable perfume and colognes, nail polish and
remover, and aerosols (hairspray, shaving cream,
sunscreen, insect repellent, etc.) —in carry-on* or
checked baggage.
Non-toiletry aerosols that contain
nonflammable & non-toxic gas—in checked
baggage only.
Flammable aerosols that are not toiletry or
medicinal articles or described in the other
exceptions, such as aerosol laundry starch,
insecticides, spray paint, cooking sprays, etc.
Compressed oxygen, liquid oxygen, oxygen
canisters. Medical oxygen may be used in the gate
area but passengers may not bring/use their own
oxygen onboard and may not carry it in checked
baggage. FAA-approved personal oxygen
concentrators are allowed.
Hazardous Materials Carried by Airline Passengers and Crewmembers 2
Passenger
Hazmat Exception
Allowed NotAllowed
Matches and One packet of safety matches (regular
Strike anywhere matches.
Lighters matches) may be carried on one’s person (e.g., in
your pocket) or in carry-on baggage.*
One lighter (gas/butane or absorbed
liquid/Zippo-style) may be carried on one’s person
or in carry-on baggage.*
Lighter refills, lighter fluid.
*When carryon bags are checked at the gate or at planeside,
any matches and lighters in the bag being checked must be
removed and kept with the passenger in the aircraft cabin.
Only lighters (including torch lighters) in a
DOT-approved container may be in checked
baggage.
The TSA forbids torch lighters in the aircraft
cabin (carry-on).
Implanted medical
devices
Radioactive
medicines injected
or ingested
Pacemakers or similar devices and radio-
pharmaceuticals contained in the body.
Hazardous Materials Carried by Airline Passengers and Crewmembers 3
Passenger
Hazmat Exception
Allowed NotAllowed
Alcoholic beverages
Up to 5 liters of alcoholic beverages with an
alcohol content of more than 24% but not more
than 70% in unopened retail packages in carry-
on* or checked baggage.
Note: Alcoholic beverages containing 24% or less
alcohol by volume (beer, wine, etc.,) are not
subject to the DOT hazardous materials
regulations.*
Alcoholic beverages with more than 70%
alcohol by volume (more than 140 Proof) including
95% grain alcohol and 151-proof rum.
Duty free perfume
and cologne
Flammable perfumes and colognes from the
airport / airline duty free shops carried on one’s
person or in carry-on baggage.
Hazardous Materials Carried by Airline Passengers and Crewmembers 4
Passenger
Hazmat Exception
Allowed NotAllowed
Curling iron
(cordless)
A curling iron with a flammable gas cartridge
installed and safety cover in place.
Extra flammable gas cartridges.
Small mercury
medical
thermometer
Small personal mercury thermometer in a
protective case.
Small arms
ammunition
Note: For rules on carrying
unloaded firearms in checked
baggage, visit the TSA website:
http://www.tsa.gov
Also check your airline’s policy
on guns and ammunition.
Small arms ammunition (up to 19.1 mm (.75
caliber) for rifle and pistol cartridges, any size
shotgun shells) for personal use, when securely
boxed and carried in checked baggage only.
Loose ammunition
Loaded firearms
Black powder
Primers
Percussion caps
Self-defense spray
Pepper spray
One small (4-ounces or less) self-defense
spray, protected from accidental activation, and
carried in checked baggage only.*
Defense sprays containing more than 2% tear
gas (CS, CN, etc.).
Defense sprays larger than 4 ounces.
Hazardous Materials Carried by Airline Passengers and Crewmembers 5
Passenger
Hazmat Exception
Allowed NotAllowed
Dry ice Up to 2.5 kg (5.5 lbs.) of dry ice per person in
carry-on or checked baggage in a package that
allows venting of carbon dioxide gas.
Dry ice in air-tight packages.
Dry ice in checked baggage that is not properly
marked.
Self-inflating
lifejacket
Self-inflating safety
vest
A life jacket, motorcycle safety vest, or similar
vest containing up to two small nonflammable gas
cartridges plus two spare cartridges in carry-on or
checked baggage.
Avalanche
backpacks*
containing
compressed gas
cylinders or
pyrotechnics.
*International regulations allow avalanche
backpacks in baggage but the U.S. does not.
Avalanche backpacks with empty cylinders (and no
pyrotechnic materials) are allowed in baggage in
the U.S.; but the empty cylinders may still be
restricted by the TSA if security officers can’t see
inside the cylinder.
Gas cylinders for
mechanical limbs
Nonflammable gas cylinders/cartridges in
mechanical limbs plus spares in checked or carry-
on baggage.
Hazardous Materials Carried by Airline Passengers and Crewmembers 6
Passenger
Hazmat Exception
Allowed NotAllowed
Mercury barometer
Larger mercury thermometers and barometers
or thermometer
carried by government weather personnel in
carry-on baggage only. Must be in leak-proof,
mercury-proof packaging.
Heat-producing
equipment (battery
operated)
Diving lamps and other battery-operated
extreme heat producing equipment in carry-on or
checked baggage. Energy source or a heat
producing component must be disconnected or
removed.
Heat-producing devices containing batteries
without protection from accidental activation.
Unprotected spare batteries.
Removed or spare batteries must be protected
from short circuit—don’t allow the battery
terminals to touch other metal.
Removed or spare lithium batteries must be
carried in carry-on baggage.
Wheelchairs and
mobility devices
with nonspillable or
dry sealed batteries
See separate entry for lithium
ion batteries.
“Nonspillable” is intended to
describe “wet” batteries
where the electrolyte won’t
leak from a cracked battery
case. This includes gel-cell
and AGM batteries.
Wheelchair or other battery powered mobility
device equipped with a nonspillable battery when
carried as checked baggage.
Nonspillable or
dry sealed battery
Hazardous Materials Carried by Airline Passengers and Crewmembers 7
Passenger
Hazmat Exception
Allowed NotAllowed
Wheelchairs and
mobility devices
with wet spillable
batteries
Wheelchair or other battery powered mobility
device equipped with a spillable battery when
carried as checked baggage. Device must be
stowed so the battery is upright or the battery
must be disconnected and packaged separately.
Spillable battery
Wheelchairs and
mobility devices
with lithium ion
batteries
“Watt Hours” Explained
Battery rules sometimes
specify Watt Hours (Wh).
Volts x Amp Hours (Ah)
= Watt Hours (Wh)
or
Volts x mAh ÷ 1000
= Watt Hours
Example: a battery rated
at 12 volts and 3000 mAh
(or 3 Ah) = 36 Wh
Wheelchair or other battery powered mobility
device equipped with a lithium ion battery
(rechargeable lithium battery) carried as checked
baggage.
Lithium ion
battery
Lithium ion batteries exceeding a rating of 300
watt hours (Wh).
If a collapsible mobility device has an
unprotected removable lithium ion battery, the
battery must be removed, terminals
protected, and carried in carry-on baggage—
with airline approval. The battery (and one
spare) cannot exceed 300 watt hours (Wh)
each. If two spare batteries are carried they
are limited to 160 Wh each.
Hazardous Materials Carried by Airline Passengers and Crewmembers 8
Passenger
Hazmat Exception
Allowed NotAllowed
Batteries in portable
electronic devices
for personal use
Spare batteries for
these devices
See next page for
electronic cigarettes and
vaporizers
Batteries installed in portable electronic
devices may be in carry-on* and checked
baggage.
All spare batteries must be protected from
damage and short circuit (in original packaging or
otherwise securely packed with battery terminals
protected from contacting other metal).
Spare lithium metal and lithium ion batteries
must be placed in carry-on baggage only —and
removed from carry-on if the bag is checked at
the gate or at planeside.
Spare lithium metal and lithium ion batteries in
checked baggage—including bags checked at the
gate or at planeside.
Loose batteries not protected from short circuit.
Batteries being carried for resale/distribution
(not personal use).
Wet batteries.
Car and motorcycle batteries.
See separate entry for battery-powered wheelchairs and
mobility devices.
Devices with batteries installed but no
protection from accidental activation—if they can
cause significant heat when accidentally turned on.
This may include toys, wheeled devices, and
battery-powered drills without a drill case or other
switch protection. Removed batteries must be
placed in carry-on and protected from short circuit.
“Watt Hours” Explained
Battery rules sometimes
specify Watt Hours (Wh).
Volts x Amp Hours (Ah)
= Watt Hours (Wh)
or
Volts x mAh ÷ 1000
= Watt Hours
Example: a battery rated
at 12 volts and 3000 mAh
(or 3 Ah) = 36 Wh
Spare non-lithium dry batteries (alkaline,
NiMH, etc.) may be in carry-on or checked
baggage if protected from damage and
short circuit.
Nonspillable gel-cell batteries for portable
electronics are limited to 12 volts and100 watt
hours. There’s a limit of two (2) spare gel-cell
batteries. Spares may be in carry-on or checked
baggage when protected from damage and
short circuit.
* TSA security rules prohibit many power
tools (drills, saws, etc.) in carry-on
baggage.
Hazardous Materials Carried by Airline Passengers and Crewmembers 9
Passenger
Hazmat Exception
Allowed NotAllowed
Electronic
cigarettes
(e-cigarettes)
Vaporizers (vaping
devices, vape pens,
etc.)
E-cigarettes and vaporizer devices carried on
one’s person (pocket) or in carry-on baggage.
Devices and spare batteries must be removed
from carry-on bags that are checked at the gate
or planeside.
Spare batteries in carry-on baggage –when
batteries are protected from damage and short
circuit.
E-cigarettes, vaping devices, and similar
devices in checked baggage – including carry-on
bags that are checked at the gate or planeside.
Spare lithium batteries in checked baggage –
including carry-on bags that are checked at the
gate or planeside.
Recharging the devices or batteries while on
board the aircraft.
Devices that are not protected from accidental
activation or overheating, including the use of
incompatible batteries.
Unprotected spare batteries.
Fuel cells for
Fuel cells for portable electronics allowed in
Refilling a fuel cell (other than installing a
portable electronic
carry-on baggage only.
cartridge) is not allowed on the aircraft.
devices
Two spare fuel cell cartridges allowed in carry-
on baggage only, except that cartridges
containing only flammable liquid or corrosives
may also be carried in checked baggage.
The fuel cells must be marked “Approved for
carriage in aircraft cabin.”
The fuel cell cartridges must be marked with the
quantity and type of fuel.
Hazardous Materials Carried by Airline Passengers and Crewmembers 10
Passenger
Hazmat Exception
Allowed NotAllowed
Permeation
Small permeation devices containing
devices for
hazardous materials in checked baggage only.
calibrating air
Devices must be in double layers of hermetically
quality monitoring
sealed inner packaging and then a strong outer
equipment
packaging.
Internal combustion
Engines and engine-powered equipment
Equipment that still has fuel in it, including
or fuel cell engines
carried as checked baggage if all fuel (including
residue and vapors) is completely removed.
Engine must not have a battery or other
hazardous materials.
residue or vapors.
Specimens in
Non-infectious specimens in formaldehyde* or
formaldehyde
alcohol solutions in carry-on or checked baggage.
or alcohol
Inner containers must contain no more than 30 ml
solutions
of the formaldehyde or alcohol solution. The
aggregate quantity of formaldehyde or alcohol
solution must not exceed one liter (1 L) for the
entire outer packaging.**
See 49 CFR 173.4b(b) for full packaging requirements.
Hazardous Materials Carried by Airline Passengers and Crewmembers 11
Passenger
Hazmat Exception
Allowed NotAllowed
Liquid nitrogen
dry shippers
Liquid nitrogen in a dry shipper (insulated
shipping flask that absorbs liquid nitrogen into an
inner liner) carried as checked or carry-on
baggage. All liquid must be absorbed. Packaging
must allow nitrogen gas to vent.
Small nonflammable
gas cartridges
Bicycle tire inflation
kits
Small gas cartridges (50 ml volume or less) in
checked baggage, installed in or with a device.
Up to four cartridges total. Spare cartridges
should be securely packed. Airline approval
required.
Cartridges and cylinders with a volume larger
than 50 ml (larger than a 28-gram carbon dioxide
cartridge).
Hazardous Materials Carried by Airline Passengers and Crewmembers 12
Not a complete list!
The preceding chart is not a complete listing of all the hazardous
materials that may or may not be carried by airline passengers. There
are many more prohibited items (car batteries, fuel, reworks, etc.) and
allowed items (nonammable paints, portable oxygen concentrators,
camp stoves purged of fuel, etc.) that the FAA provides guidance on.
When in doubt...
Leave it out!
For more in-depth information, go to:
www.faa.gov/Go/PackSafe
Or scan the QR code with your
smart phone
You may also contact the U.S. DOT Hazmat
Information Center with your hazmat
questions at: [email protected]
or 1-800-467-4922
For questions on weapons, sharp objects,
liquids at the screening checkpoint, and
other security questions; please go to the
Transportation Security Administration’s
web site at: www.tsa.gov/traveler-information
