Holidaymakers are being cautioned about the growing issue of certain items being brought onto flights, leading to multiple incidents and even flight diversions. Passengers are advised against storing power banks or vapes in their checked baggage due to the heightened fire risk associated with lithium batteries, which now stands as the primary safety concern for aircraft.
According to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the quantity of these devices discovered in checked bags has nearly doubled within a year, with the average traveler now carrying four different lithium-powered devices on a single flight. These batteries are commonly found in electronic gadgets like laptops, vapes, power banks, mobile phones, and smartwatches. In the event of battery failure, they can spark uncontrollable fires that spread quickly.
In the past year, the CAA received almost 650 reports of batteries in checked baggage, a twofold increase from 2024, while incidents of batteries overheating or malfunctioning surged to 206. When batteries malfunction in the cabin, they can be promptly identified and extinguished. However, if a fire ignites in the cargo hold during a flight, it might go unnoticed until it’s too late.
The CAA reports that two lithium battery-related incidents occur every week, leading to hazards and flight disruptions. Recently, an easyJet flight had to divert its course due to a power bank stored in the cargo hold. In another incident, a video circulated online showing a fire outbreak on an Air China flight.
The CAA emphasizes the importance of passenger awareness in preventing such incidents. Tim Alderslade, Chief Executive of Airlines UK, highlights the significance of proactive prevention, starting with passengers’ packing habits.
Giuseppe Capanna, a product safety engineer at Electrical Safety First, emphasizes the risks associated with storing these products in checked baggage, as access to them is restricted. Any malfunction can lead to catastrophic fires with severe consequences. Capanna stresses the importance of only bringing safe and tested products while traveling.
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