UK Aviation Regulator Warns of Fire Risks from Lithium Batteries in Luggage

Passengers flying internationally are being advised against packing power banks and e-cigarettes in their checked luggage due to the significant fire risk posed by lithium batteries. The UK's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has identified these batteries as the primary safety hazard to aircraft, a concern that has grown as the number of such devices found in hold luggage has nearly doubled over the past year.

The CAA notes that the average traveler now carries four separate lithium-powered devices on flights, including laptops, mobile phones, smart watches, and vapes. These batteries, while convenient for their high energy density in small form factors, can overheat and ignite, leading to fires that are difficult to control on an aircraft.

Data from UK authorities shows a substantial increase in incidents. In 2024, 316 instances of devices with lithium batteries were detected in hold bags. This number rose to 643 in 2025. Over the same period, reports of devices overheating or malfunctioning nearly doubled, from 123 to 206 incidents. While most of these issues occurred in the aircraft cabin, where flight crews can manage them, the primary concern is the potential for undetected fires to start in the cargo hold, where they may not be discovered until it is too late to extinguish them.

As the summer holiday travel period begins, particularly with school holidays commencing in Scotland this week, the CAA is emphasizing the importance of carrying these devices in the cabin. This allows for immediate detection and response by passengers and crew should any battery issues arise. The warning serves to mitigate the growing safety risk as air travel volumes increase during peak holiday seasons.