Power banks and vapes now biggest fire risk on planes

Many people carry devices that use lithium batteries such as power banks, vapes, mobile phones, laptops, and smartwatches. These batteries can store a lot of energy in a small space which makes them very useful. However, if they become damaged, defective or too hot then they can catch fire. These fires spread very quickly and is difficult to put out. Because of this, the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) says lithium powered are now the biggest safety risk on aircraft. Passengers are being instructed not to pack power banks, vapes or other lithium-battery. Instead, they should keep them in their cabin bags. The number of these devices found in checked luggage has increased sharply. In 2024, UK authorities reported 316 cases of lithium battery devices being found in hold bags. In 2025, that number rose to 643. Reports of batteries overheating or malfunctioning also increased from 123 in 2024 to 206 in 2025.

Most of these incidents happened inside the cabin where the flight crew could quickly handle the situation. However, if a battery catches fire in the aircraft's hold it may not be noticed right away making it much harder to control before it becomes dangerous. The CAA says there are now about two lithium battery incidents every week. Besides the risk of fire, these devices can also cause flight delays if bags need to be removed from the aircraft's hold. In some cases flights even have to change their route. Earlier, EasyJet flight was diverted to Rome after it was discovered that a power bank had been packed in the checked luggage. The CAA believes many passengers still aren't aware of the rules. As more people travel with these devices it is becoming a bigger safety challenge for airlines. Passengers should carry devices like mobile phones, vapes, and power banks in their cabin bags instead of checked luggage. Each passenger is allowed to bring only two power banks and they must not be charged during the flight. If a laptop is packed in checked luggage, it should be completely switched off.

Tim Alderslade, who is the Chief Executive of Airlines UK, said that lithium battery incidents are becoming a bigger problem because more people are travelling with electronic devices. He said, "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, who is a product safety engineer at Electrical Safety First, said lithium batteries store a large amount of energy which makes them useful for charging devices. However, if they are damaged or faulty they can start very powerful fires that are difficult to put out. He added, "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." He also said that it is very important to take only safe and properly tested electronic products when travelling on holiday.

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