Holidaymakers are being cautioned about a growing concern involving specific items being brought onto airplanes, resulting in pilots having to manage multiple incidents and even diverting flights. Passengers are advised against packing power banks or vapes in their checked baggage due to the heightened fire risk associated with lithium batteries, which has become the primary safety hazard for aircraft.
According to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the quantity of such devices discovered in checked bags has nearly doubled within a year, with the average traveler now carrying four different lithium-powered gadgets on a flight. These batteries are commonly found in electronic devices like laptops, vapes, power banks, mobile phones, and smartwatches. When these batteries fail, they can ignite fires that are challenging to contain and spread quickly.
Reportedly, almost 650 incidents of batteries in checked baggage were documented by the CAA last year, marking a twofold increase from 2024, while reports of batteries overheating or malfunctioning also saw a significant surge to 206 cases. Malfunctioning batteries in the cabin can be identified and managed promptly, but if a fire initiates in the cargo hold during a flight, it might go unnoticed until it escalates beyond control.
The CAA has highlighted that two lithium battery-related incidents now occur weekly, leading to risks and flight delays. Recently, an easyJet flight had to change course due to a power bank packed in the cargo hold, and a video circulated online in October showing a fire onboard an Air China flight.
Emphasizing prevention as the best course of action, Tim Alderslade, Chief Executive of Airlines UK, stated that while flight crews are trained to handle various situations, it is crucial for passengers to be mindful when packing their belongings. Giuseppe Capanna, a product safety engineer at Electrical Safety First, underscored the dangers posed by packing such products in baggage, emphasizing the potential for devastating fires with severe repercussions in case of malfunctions.
Capanna stressed the importance of ensuring only safe and tested products are carried along during travels to mitigate risks.