Aviation Regulator Warns Power Banks and Vapes Are Now Biggest Fire Risk on Aircraft

Air passengers have been urged not to pack power banks, vapes and other lithium battery-powered devices in checked luggage as aviation authorities warn that such items have become the leading fire risk on commercial aircraft.

The warning comes from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) ahead of the busy summer travel season, with school holidays beginning in Scotland before the rest of the United Kingdom.

According to the regulator, lithium battery-powered devices are now the most significant safety concern for airlines, with the number of such items discovered in checked baggage almost doubling within a year.

The CAA estimates that the average traveller now carries at least four lithium-powered electronic devices when flying, including mobile phones, laptops, smartwatches, power banks and e-cigarettes.

While lithium batteries are valued for storing large amounts of energy in compact devices, they can become dangerous if damaged, defective or exposed to excessive heat. In such cases, they may overheat and ignite, creating fires that spread rapidly and are difficult to extinguish.

Official figures show that UK authorities recorded 316 incidents involving lithium battery devices found in checked baggage during 2024. That number rose sharply to 643 incidents in 2025.

Reports of lithium-powered devices overheating or malfunctioning also increased significantly over the same period, climbing from 123 cases to 206.

Most of those incidents occurred inside aircraft cabins, where flight crews were able to respond quickly. However, aviation experts warn that similar fires in cargo holds could go unnoticed until they become far more dangerous.

The regulator said airlines are now dealing with an average of two lithium battery-related incidents every week.

Beyond safety concerns, improperly packed devices can also disrupt flight operations.

Last month, an EasyJet flight was forced to divert to Rome after it was discovered that a passenger had packed a power bank in checked luggage.

In another widely reported incident in October, flames erupted from an overhead luggage compartment aboard an Air China flight, with reports suggesting a lithium battery was responsible for the fire.

Passengers Reminded of Safety Rules

The Civil Aviation Authority believes many travellers remain unaware of the regulations surrounding lithium-powered devices.

Passengers are being advised to:

Carry mobile phones, power banks, vapes and similar lithium battery devices in their cabin baggage rather than checked luggage.
Bring no more than two power banks per person, and never attempt to charge them during a flight.
Completely power off laptops before placing them in checked baggage if they must be transported in the aircraft hold.

Tim Alderslade, Chief Executive of Airlines UK, described lithium battery incidents as a growing concern for the aviation industry.

“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.”

Giuseppe Capanna, a product safety engineer at Electrical Safety First, said lithium batteries contain enormous amounts of stored energy, making them extremely useful but also potentially hazardous.

“When these products are packed in your baggage, there is no access to them. So if something goes wrong, they can cause a really devastating fire that can have real dangerous consequences.”

Capanna added that although most lithium-powered devices meet safety standards, poorly manufactured products purchased through third-party sellers are more likely to pose risks.

“It is really important that we make sure that we only bring safe, tested products with us on holiday.”