An easyJet flight from Egypt to London Luton was recently diverted to Rome Fiumicino after a passenger alerted cabin crew to a power bank in use within the aircraft's hold. The captain made the decision to divert the flight approximately three hours into its journey.
Understanding the Risks
Industry experts explain that the primary danger with power banks, which utilize lithium-ion batteries, is 'thermal runaway.' This phenomenon describes a self-sustaining chain reaction within the battery that can generate intense heat and fire. In the pressurized environment of an aircraft, especially in the cargo hold where fires can go undetected, such an event poses a significant risk. Gavin Lapidus, company director at eShores, noted that during thermal runaway, a lithium-ion battery can reach extreme temperatures of 600°C to 1000°C, releasing toxic flammable gases and carrying a high risk of fire or explosion.
Fires in cargo holds are considered particularly dangerous due to the inaccessibility of the area, delaying detection and potentially escalating before crews can intervene. Power banks are more susceptible to overheating or igniting compared to other lithium-ion devices due to variations in manufacturing quality, less stringent regulation, and common purchasing of inexpensive, unbranded products.
Regulatory Guidance and Incidents
In response to such risks, the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) advises that power banks must be carried as carry-on baggage and should not be recharged or used to recharge other devices while on board an aircraft. Passengers are permitted to carry a maximum of two power banks per person, and each must be protected to prevent short circuits. These regulations were updated earlier this year as part of the CAA's 'Technical instructions for the safe transport of dangerous goods by air.'
This incident follows a previous event on a KLM flight last year when a portable phone charger caught fire mid-flight over the Atlantic Ocean. Flight attendants were able to extinguish the fire with extinguishers.
Airline Policies on Power Banks
Airlines have specific rules regarding the carriage and use of power banks:
- easyJet: Allows power banks with a Watt-hour (Wh) rating not exceeding 160Wh. They must be in cabin baggage, not the hold, and prohibited from use on board. Up to two power banks per passenger are permitted, and they must be individually protected.
- Ryanair: Permits up to 20 spare lithium batteries or power banks not exceeding 100Wh each in the cabin. Devices over 100Wh are not allowed. Use for charging during taxi, take-off, or landing is prohibited, and they should be stored in a small cabin bag or on one's person.
- British Airways: Requires power banks and spare batteries up to 100Wh to be in hand baggage only, with a limit of two per person. The device must display its capacity rating. Aircraft seat power supplies are for personal electronic devices only, not power banks.
- Jet2: States power banks must be in cabin baggage, stored under the seat. They cannot be used during taxi, take-off, or landing but may be used onboard at other times if monitored. Damaged power banks are forbidden, and the watt-hour rating or lithium content must be visible.
- TUI: Limits power banks to 100 Wh and two per person, exclusively in carry-on luggage. They cannot be used to charge devices or themselves on board and must be placed under the seat in front or in a seat-back pocket.
The UK Foreign Office recommends that passengers check airline restrictions or contact their airline if unsure about what items can be carried.
Other Items to Consider
Beyond power banks, several other items have restrictions for air travel. Tent pegs, fireworks, and replica firearms are prohibited in hand luggage. Items like snowglobes, hair dye, and liquid soup often exceed the 100ml liquid allowance for hand luggage and may be better suited for checked baggage. Tools such as drills, saws, and hammers are permitted in the hold but not in hand luggage. Frozen breast milk is allowed in checked baggage but not in hand luggage.