Danger in luggage: Why you should not leave power banks and vapes in checked baggage

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.