The United Kingdom’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has warned air passengers not to pack power banks in their checked luggage as they prepare to take off for summer vacations.
The reminder comes after the introduction of new safety rules banning power banks and lithium-ion-battery-powered devices from the hold. Instead, flyers must keep such items (a maximum of two) on their person where they can be easily monitored—and never use them to charge things up while on the aircraft.
We’ve launched a campaign highlighting the threat posed by over 100 million incorrectly packed batteries.
— UK Civil Aviation Authority (@UK_CAA) June 26, 2026
Power banks and vapes must be taken with you into the cabin.
Packing them incorrectly risks delays, or worse, an in-flight fire. pic.twitter.com/2aeo2MZyFf
The UK is not alone in changing its guidance in line with new recommendations from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) earlier this year. Rules on power banks and lithium-ion batteries have been updated by aviation authorities and airlines around the world, including British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Lufthansa Group, Qantas, and Singapore Airlines. Flyers should always check what they can pack against their carrier’s policies and relevant national rules to avoid items being confiscated (or worse, being at the heart of a tragedy).
Recent years have seen a litany of near disasters due to devices overheating. An Air Busan flight was destroyed by fire in early 2025, and hundreds of other safety incidents involving batteries and chargers have been reported. Earlier this summer, the CAA said the fire risk posed by lithium batteries is now the number one safety risk to aircraft.
Fire breaks out in the overhead luggage bin on board Air China flight CA139 while flying between Hangzhou and Seoul.
— Breaking Aviation News & Videos (@aviationbrk) October 18, 2025
It is understood that the cause of the fire was a lithium battery in a passenger's luggage spontaneously combusting.
The cabin crew contained the fire and the… pic.twitter.com/IV5LEYxIy5
The problem is the risk of thermal runaway, an exponential chain reaction in a battery where excess internal heat causes chemical reactions that generate even more heat, creating a vicious circle, and quickly leading to battery failure, the release of toxic and inflammable gases, and the chance of fires or explosions. Lithium-ion batteries are more prone to this than other battery types because they cram a vast amount of energy into a tiny, lightweight space, with a highly flammable liquid electrolyte. Any damage, overcharging, or extreme heat exposure can cause a violent outcome.
The number of fire safety incidents involving electronic devices in the hold reported to the CAA more than doubled between 2024 (315) and 2025 (643). When such occurrences happen in the cabin, air crews are trained in how to spot and contain the risk, but in the hold, they are invisible and could have unthinkable consequences.
Tim Alderslade, Chief Executive of Airlines UK, has said managing the risks posed by lithium batteries is a “growing challenge” and said, “the best outcome is always prevention, which starts when passengers pack their bags.”
