LITHIUM BATTERY INCIDENTS IN AIRCRAFT HOLD LUGGAGE DOUBLE IN A YEAR

The Civil Aviation Authority has warned passengers not to pack power banks or vapes in hold luggage as the summer holiday travel season begins. Devices containing lithium batteries now represent the number one safety risk to aircraft, according to the aviation regulator. The number of such devices found in hold baggage nearly doubled over twelve months, rising from 316 incidents in 2024 to 643 in 2025.

Lithium batteries store large amounts of energy in compact form and power numerous everyday items including laptops, mobile phones, smart watches and vaping devices. If the batteries overheat or malfunction, fires can develop rapidly and become difficult to control. Reports of devices overheating or malfunctioning also nearly doubled in the same period, from 123 to 206. The Civil Aviation Authority recorded approximately two lithium battery incidents occurring each week. Most malfunctions occur in the cabin where crew can respond, but incidents in the hold may go undetected until control becomes impossible.

Removing bags from the hold to address battery fires causes flight delays and has led to diversions. An EasyJet flight diverted to Rome last month after a power bank was discovered in the hold. Video footage from an Air China flight in October showed flames emerging from overhead storage, reportedly caused by a lithium battery. The Civil Aviation Authority says many passengers remain unaware of the regulations. Passengers are advised to carry devices such as mobile phones, vapes and power banks in cabin baggage only, with a maximum of two power banks per person permitted, and these must never be charged during flight.