Power bank problems on flights increasing worldwide, UK Regulator warns

Passengers travelling with portable chargers are being urged to follow airline rules after rising safety incidents involving power banks on flights worldwide.

The United Kingdom’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) says overheating power banks are becoming a growing concern for airlines globally.

“These things, when they catch fire, they go — they really go — they are big, big issues and big fires,”

Jonathan Nicholson of the CAA warned, stressing the dangers posed by lithium-ion batteries used in portable chargers.

The warning follows a recent incident involving an EasyJet flight from Hurghada, Egypt, to London Luton, which was diverted to Rome after a passenger reported that a power bank had been packed in checked luggage.

Whiles data from safety organisation UL Standards & Engagement showed battery-related incidents on flights increased by 15 per cent between 2019 and 2024, with airlines reporting an average of two overheating incidents weekly last year.

Nicholson said airline restrictions on power banks are not in place “for the sake of it,” urging passengers to understand the importance of safety measures onboard aircraft.

“It is absolutely a rule that can make a difference,” he said, adding that travellers should always keep portable chargers in hand luggage and avoid charging them during flights.

According to international aviation rules, passengers are generally advised not to place power banks in checked baggage because overheating batteries can pose serious fire risks in aircraft cargo holds.

The CAA says it plans to partner airlines to launch a public awareness campaign aimed at helping travellers better understand safety rules regarding portable chargers.

Travellers are also being encouraged to invest in quality power banks and handle them carefully to reduce the risk of overheating or damage.

Source: BBC