Warning over power bank fire risk on flights as summer holidays begin
Summary
Passengers are being warned not to pack power banks or vape devices containing lithium batteries in their checked luggage due to fire risks. The UK’s aviation regulator says incidents involving these batteries have nearly doubled, and passengers should keep such devices in their carry-on bags.Key Facts
- Lithium batteries can cause fires because they store a lot of energy in a small space.
- Fires from these batteries are hard to control and dangerous, especially in checked luggage where crew cannot access them.
- The number of lithium battery incidents in checked bags rose from 316 in 2024 to 643 in 2025 in the UK.
- Reports of devices overheating or breaking almost doubled from 123 in 2024 to 206 in 2025.
- The Civil Aviation Authority says about two lithium battery-related incidents happen every week on flights.
- Passengers are advised to carry devices like power banks, vapes, and phones in the cabin, not in checked luggage.
- Only two power banks per person are allowed on flights and cannot be charged onboard.
- Airlines warn that improper packing can cause flight delays or diversions, as happened recently with an EasyJet flight.
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