Why are lithium batteries dangerous in the luggage compartment?

As millions of tourists travel by plane this summer, aviation authorities are issuing a serious warning: never place power banks, electronic cigarettes (vapes), and other devices with lithium batteries in your checked luggage.

The risk of fire from lithium batteries is now a leading aviation safety concern, according to the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

Why is the ban critical?

  • Difficult access: If a battery catches fire in the cargo hold, the crew has no direct access to it, making the fire extremely dangerous.
  • Rising incidents: In the UK alone, cases of batteries found in checked luggage have increased from 316 in 2024 to 643 in 2025.
  • Flight delays: Finding such devices requires removing suitcases from the cargo hold, which leads to flight diversions and serious delays.

There is no shortage of examples of such incidents – flights operated by companies like easyJet and Air China have already been affected due to prohibited devices in luggage. Always carry your electronic devices in your carry-on baggage, where they can be monitored and, if necessary, easily secured by the crew.