Federal aviation regulators, as part of a safety alert stressing fire hazards posed by lithium batteries, urged airlines to take special precautions when transporting such shipments on cargo aircraft, reported The Wall Street Journal.

The Federal Aviation Administration's warning reflects escalating concern about the flammability of bulk shipments of widely used rechargeable batteries in the holds of cargo planes after a recent crash in Dubai.

The FAA's action, while it stops short of ordering packaging, handling or paperwork changes, provides the clearest indication yet that the Department of Transportation is moving to finalise mandatory rules to reduce such air-cargo hazards.