UK aviation regulator warns power banks pose rising fire risk on flights

The UK's Civil Aviation Authority has warned that power banks are causing a growing number of serious incidents on flights and urged passengers to follow the rules on carrying them.

Jonathan Nicholson of the CAA told BBC News that the devices carry serious risks of overheating or catching fire. He said restrictions such as keeping them out of checked luggage were not arbitrary.

The warning follows an EasyJet flight from Hurghada in Egypt to London Luton last week that diverted to Rome after a passenger reported a portable charger in the hold. Passengers spent the night in Italy before continuing the next day.

Nicholson listed the basic international rules all passengers must follow. Power banks must be carried on board, not placed in checked luggage. Passengers may bring a maximum of two. They must not be used in flight and must not be charged on board because that is when they become hottest and most prone to problems.

The CAA plans to launch a campaign this summer with UK airlines to explain the rules to holidaymakers and business travellers.

Nicholson said incidents involving power banks are on the rise as the devices grow in popularity. He cited data from UL Standards & Engagement showing an average of two flights per week in 2024 experienced a thermal runaway incident involving lithium-ion batteries. The figures, based on voluntary reports from 37 airlines, cover power banks, phones, tablets and laptops. There was a 15% increase in such incidents between 2019 and 2024.

A CAA survey of 1,000 UK passengers in November 2025 found that more than a third knew lithium batteries existed and that rules applied, but were unsure what the rules required. Passengers over 55 tended to know the rules better.

Nicholson said power banks pose greater risks than devices such as laptops because they contain larger, stronger batteries that can produce bigger fires. Cabin crew are trained to handle such fires.

He also advised passengers to handle power banks carefully in daily life and to buy quality products, noting that cheaper models with replacement batteries carry higher risks. Airline policies vary slightly but generally require portable chargers to be kept in a bag under the seat rather than in overhead bins.