Portable charger problems on flights 'on the rise', watchdog warns

Power banks are causing a increasing fig of superior issues connected flights worldwide, the UK's aviation regulator has warned arsenic it encouraged passengers to cheque the rules.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said "more awareness" was needed arsenic portable chargers transportation "serious risks" of overheating oregon catching fire.

Jonathan Nicholson from the CAA told BBC News that restrictions specified arsenic not putting the devices successful checked luggage were not "somebody being pedantic" oregon "for the involvement of it", with passengers urged "to bash the close thing".

Nicholson said the "basic acceptable of planetary rules" each passengers indispensable travel connected powerfulness banks are:

The CAA is readying to motorboat a run this summertime with UK airlines to explicate what the rules are and why, for those going connected their holidays and concern travellers.

Last week, EasyJet formation EZY2618 from Hurghada successful Egypt to London Luton changed people to onshore successful Rome Fiumicino arsenic a "precaution" aft a rider told unit members that a portable charger was successful the aircraft's hold.

Passengers had to enactment overnight until a rescheduled formation to London the adjacent day.

Nicholson said incidents involving powerfulness banks were "certainly connected the rise" arsenic portable chargers turn successful popularity, alongside vapes which are not allowed successful checked luggage either.

This means lithium-ion batteries overheating - posing superior occurrence risks.

The information was compiled done voluntary reporting by 37 rider and cargo airlines, and covers each rechargeable devices with lithium-ion batteries specified arsenic powerfulness banks, phones, tablets and laptops.

There was a 15% emergence successful incidents betwixt 2019, erstwhile the organisation began collecting data, and 2024.

A survey by the CAA of 1,000 UK passengers successful November 2025 suggested much than a 3rd cognize what lithium batteries are and are alert rules exist, but are unsure what the rules involve. Over-55s typically knew the rules better.

Explaining wherefore the rules are truthful strict, Nicholson said that compared to the likes of integer cameras and laptops, "power banks person a overmuch bigger battery, overmuch stronger and get a batch hotter".

"These things, erstwhile they drawback fire, they spell - they truly spell - they are big, large issues and large fires," helium added, though compartment unit are trained connected however to woody with it.

He urged passengers to beryllium cautious with powerfulness banks not conscionable connected aircraft, but besides successful mundane life.

"I mean, I look aft my mobile telephone astir apt amended than I bash my powerfulness bank. Power banks thin to beryllium things like, 'oh yeah, let's instrumentality the powerfulness bank, propulsion it successful the bag, bash it astir and that benignant of thing'... and they astir apt instrumentality a batch much damage."

He added it is worthy "getting the champion powerfulness slope that you tin spend successful presumption of the quality" arsenic "there are a batch of not truthful bully products around" with cheaply made, replacement batteries carrying higher risks.

Airline rules person flimsy differences successful their proposal to passengers connected the issue, but mostly inquire that portable chargers beryllium kept successful a container nether the spot alternatively than successful overhead compartments.