UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch Warns of EV Battery Hazards in Review | Aviation International News

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UK Air Accident Investigators Warn of EV Battery Risks

South London King Air crash was only fatal commercial air transport accident

AAIB Office with sign — © AAIB

By Amy Wilder • Writer

June 4, 2026

High-voltage battery systems in electric aircraft pose a lethal risk to accident investigators and first responders, the Air Accidents Investigation Branch warned in its Annual Safety Review for 2025. The AAIB received 783 occurrence notifications in 2025, up from 762 the previous year, and recorded 12 fatal accidents resulting in 18 deaths.

The only fatal commercial air transport accident of the year involved a Beechcraft King Air B200 at London Southend Airport (EGMC) in July, which resulted in four fatalities. The AAIB opened one formal investigation, 23 field investigations, 56 correspondence investigations, and 131 record-only investigations during the year, and supported 45 overseas investigations involving UK interests.

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