Travelers are being cautioned about a growing concern involving specific items carried onto airplanes after pilots had to handle numerous incidents and even divert a flight. Passengers are now advised against stowing power banks or vapes in their checked luggage due to the elevated fire risk associated with lithium batteries, which is currently the primary safety threat to aircraft.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has highlighted a nearly twofold increase in the number of such devices discovered in checked bags over the past year, with the average traveler now bringing four different lithium-powered gadgets aboard a flight.
Lithium batteries have become ubiquitous in various electronic devices like laptops, vapes, power banks, mobile phones, and smart watches. When these batteries malfunction, they can ignite fires that are challenging to contain and can spread quickly.
Last year, the CAA received almost 650 reports of batteries in checked luggage, double the number from 2024, and incidents of batteries overheating or malfunctioning also saw a surge, reaching 206 reports.
When batteries malfunction in the cabin, they can be identified and the fire can be managed. However, if a fire breaks out in the cargo hold during a flight, it might go unnoticed until it’s too late.
The CAA reports that two lithium battery incidents occur weekly, leading to hazards and flight delays. Recently, an easyJet flight had to divert due to a power bank packed in the cargo hold. Additionally, a video went viral in October showing a fire onboard an Air China flight.
The CAA is reminding passengers to be cautious when packing their belongings.
Airlines UK’s Chief Executive, Tim Alderslade, emphasized the importance of prevention, stating that while pilots and cabin crew are prepared to handle any situation, the best approach is to prevent incidents, starting with passengers’ packing habits.
Giuseppe Capanna, a product safety engineer at Electrical Safety First, warned about the risks of packing such products in luggage, highlighting the potential for devastating fires with severe consequences if something goes wrong.
Capanna stressed the importance of only bringing safe and tested products while traveling.
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