Power bank fire risk prompts warning as summer holidays begin

The number of lithium battery devices found in aircraft hold luggage has nearly doubled in a year, prompting the Civil Aviation Authority to issue a stark warning as the school summer holidays begin. In 2024, 316 incidents of devices with lithium batteries detected in hold bags were reported to UK authorities. In 2025, that rose to 643 — a near doubling that reflects what the regulator calls the number one safety risk to aircraft. Reports of devices overheating or malfunctioning also nearly doubled in the same period, from 123 to 206. Most of these incidents occurred in the cabin, where crew could respond. But the CAA’s concern is that if such an event happens in the hold, it may not be discovered until it is too late to control. Lithium batteries, found in power banks, vapes, laptops and smart watches, can store huge amounts of energy in a small space. If they overheat or are defective, a fire can result that spreads very quickly and is hard to control. The CAA says around two lithium battery incidents are now occurring each week. Beyond the fire risk, bags must be removed from the hold, causing delays. Planes have even been diverted. Last month, an EasyJet flight had to divert to Rome because a power bank had been packed in the hold. In October, video was widely shared of flames belching from the overhead storage compartment of an Air China flight, reportedly caused by a lithium battery. As the school summer holidays begin — in Scotland first — passengers are being reminded not to pack power banks or vapes in hold luggage. The CAA says the average person now takes four lithium-powered devices on a flight. Only two power banks per person are allowed, and they can never be charged onboard. Laptops placed in check-in bags must be turned off completely. Tim Alderslade, chief executive of Airlines UK, called the risk a "growing challenge" as the number of electronic devices people use increases. "Whilst pilots and cabin crew are trained to deal with any situation, the best outcome is always prevention, which starts when passengers pack their bags," he said. Giuseppe Capanna, a product safety engineer at the charity Electrical Safety First, said lithium batteries carry enormous amounts of energy. The CAA believes many passengers still are not aware of the rules. As millions prepare to travel, the message is clear: keep your power banks in the cabin — or risk a fire at 35,000 feet.