An easyJet pilot has issued a stark warning to passengers about the dangers of vaping on board aircraft, cautioning that the habit could result in severe penalties including fines, imprisonment, and being banned from the airline. Glenn Bradley, who serves as both an easyJet pilot and head of flight operations at the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), emphasized that modern sensors are highly effective at detecting vaping, even in airplane lavatories.
Advanced Sensors Detect Vaping and More
According to Bradley, the sensors installed on aircraft are now so sensitive that they can pick up not only vaping but also the use of deodorant or hair spray. “The sensors are really very good now,” he said. “They even pick up if you've used a deodorant or hair spray. The last thing you want to do is get in trouble with the police or banned from the airline.”
Legal Consequences Under UK Law
In the United Kingdom, the Air Navigation Order 2016 (Article 243) explicitly prohibits smoking in any compartment of a UK-registered aircraft, and vaping falls under the same prohibition. Violating this law is considered a level 4 offense on the standard scale, carrying a maximum fine of £2,500 and a prison sentence of up to five years. All major airlines also prohibit vaping in their policies, making passengers who indulge subject to additional sanctions such as being banned from future flights.
Lithium Battery Safety Campaign
Bradley’s warning came as part of a broader CAA safety campaign focused on the risks posed by lithium batteries on flights. Lithium batteries, which power a wide range of devices from mobile phones to portable fans, are considered extremely dangerous when stored in the aircraft hold. “The batteries are in everything, including portable fans. Lithium batteries in the hold are the most dangerous thing,” Bradley explained.
Fire Risk and Inaccessibility of Hold Luggage
While flight attendants are trained to handle cabin fires, accessing luggage in the hold during a flight is impossible. This makes lithium battery fires in the hold particularly hazardous. Bradley noted that passengers typically carry about four lithium batteries each, meaning a single flight could have a thousand batteries on board. “The fact is, they don't explode on a daily basis, but if they do, we want to be able to manage them,” he added.
Incident Highlights Danger
In May 2026, a UK-bound easyJet flight was diverted to Rome after a power bank was found charging in a passenger's luggage. The captain judged the situation too dangerous to ignore, underscoring the seriousness of the threat. Passengers are urged to “pack right for a safe flight” by taking all battery-containing items—such as mobile phones, vapes, and power banks—into the cabin with them.
Safety Recommendations for Passengers
The CAA advises passengers to follow these guidelines: take items like mobile phones, vapes, and power banks on board; never charge a power bank during a flight; and turn off laptops completely if they are placed in checked baggage. If a passenger realizes they have accidentally left a battery-powered device in their hold luggage, they should immediately inform the crew.
