Commercial Fixed Wing
Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Human Factors
A carry-on suitcase containing two rechargeable drill batteries shorted or arched when it came in contact with a wire bound notebook; catching the notebook on fire and the towels close to the battery caught on fire and were smoldering inside the suitcase while loading the bag for an outbound flight. The alert ramp serviceman smelled and saw smoke coming out of the bag and set it aside. The passenger was confronted; but allowed to separate the one good battery; and take it on the flight in his possession and the bag was then sent on the same flight. The burnt battery was left at the station and taken to lost and found. Fundamentally the ramp deserves credit for their reaction; but the policy regarding batteries might have to be changed to reflect the combustion danger. The battery leads should have been taped off or put in a separate case. The situation could have been disastrous if the battery had been allowed to go on the plane and smolder; possibly catching other items on fire in the pit/bin of the aircraft.
Gate Agent reported a suitcase containing two rechargeable drill batteries caught on fire when it was being loaded on the aircraft.