Do batteries start working differently when they are placed in planes?

Well, they might do - temperature, pressure etc.

Eh, I can't imagine either Prof Sadoway or Musk is only familiar with batteries at room temperature at sea level.

...and on what basis do you make that claim?

Is this like that magic ink that patents are printed in that makes inventions something entirely different when you add "in planes" or "on the Internet" to them?