The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has issued a stark warning to airline passengers: packing lithium batteries in checked luggage could cause a fire that may be impossible to contain, posing a deadly threat to everyone on board. The regulator urges all travellers to “pack right for a safe flight” by carrying batteries in the cabin, not in the hold.
Rising Incidents of Lithium Battery Fires
New data reveals the scale of the risk. Lithium battery incidents now occur at around two per week, with reports of overheating or malfunctioning passenger devices nearly doubling between 2024 and 2025, following a 98% year-on-year increase. Cases of lithium battery-powered devices being incorrectly packed in checked baggage also rose by 91% in 2025.
Despite this, passenger awareness remains low. Over a third (36%) of travellers are unaware of the dangers of packing batteries in checked baggage, even though 92% fly with a mobile phone, 55% with a laptop and 49% with a power bank. This suggests hundreds of batteries could be incorrectly packed on a typical flight.
The Deadly Threat of Lithium Batteries
The average person now takes four different lithium-powered devices on trips, meaning there are over 2,000 on a busy Airbus A380 flight. The CAA states that the fire risk posed by lithium batteries is now the number one safety risk to aircraft.
Giancarlo Buono, director of aviation safety at the CAA, said: “Flying is by far the safest way to travel and we want to keep it that way. Pack right for a safe flight, and that means don’t put your batteries in your checked bag. Take them into the cabin with you. This simple tip will make your flight safer for you, and the other passengers you’re flying with.”
Specific Items and Rules
Power banks and vapes are among the highest risk items and must always be taken into the cabin. You cannot fly with more than two power banks. You must never charge the power bank itself onboard the aircraft, but you may be able to charge other devices from it – check with the airline beforehand or ask cabin crew on the flight.
In addition, turn off laptops completely if they are to be put in check-in bags. The CAA warns that getting your packing wrong could lead to your bags being removed from the flight, causing significant delays or, even worse, resulting in a fire that may be impossible to contain.
Industry Support for the Campaign
Gareth Salt, vice president of health, safety and security at Virgin Atlantic, said: “Ahead of our peak summer travel season at Virgin Atlantic, it’s really important that customers know the guidance for lithium battery-powered devices, including power banks and vapes, and pack them correctly. We’re proud to support the CAA’s 'Pack Right for a Safe Flight' campaign, helping to raise awareness of the simple steps customers can take to reduce risk and ensure every journey is as safe and enjoyable as possible.”
Tim Alderslade, chief executive of Airlines UK, added: “UK airlines support this important campaign. Flying is the safest form of travel but as the number of electronic devices we use increases, the risk of lithium battery incidents is a growing challenge. Whilst pilots and cabin crew are trained to deal with any situation, the best outcome is always prevention, which starts when passengers pack their bags. Electronic devices like tablets, power banks and vapes belong in your hand luggage, not the hold. We'd urge every passenger heading away this summer to take a moment to check before they zip up their bag.”
