Communication Breakdown
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Hazardous Material Violation; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors
While boarding a flight I noticed a very large hard covered box in the overhead bin. I asked who's it was and a guest said it was his. I asked him what it was and he said a drum set. I asked if it had a Lithium battery and he said yes. I asked if it could be taken out he said no. That's why It's on the plane because they wouldn't let it go below and I said OK. He said he does it all the time.I then went up and asked the Customer Service Representative to come back and look at it if they had checked it out and she also had a lead on board neither one of them ever answered my questions. Did someone approve this item?I went and talk to the Captain because I was concerned this large box was half the size of the bin with lithium batteries in it and I know that it would not fit in the battery containment bag. We were flying 5 hours over water.I talked to the Captain and he said there were cell phones and laptops on Board with Lithium batteries in them and I said but this box would not fit in our battery containment bag they would. He then said he thought it was OK; so the guest brought his large bag in the overhead bin. I would like to know if this item is approved?We should have checked this item out further before flying.
B737-900 Flight Attendant reported concerns regarding transport of large Lithium Ion battery powered device in cabin overhead without thorough research.