Power Banks and Vapes: The Biggest Fire Risk on Planes
Tuesday, 2026/06/30237 words3 minutes1940 reads
Aviation authorities are issuing urgent warnings to passengers as lithium battery-powered devices have become the foremost safety threat to aircraft operations. The Civil Aviation Authority has documented an alarming escalation in incidents, with devices detected in hold baggage surging from 316 cases in 2024 to 643 in 2025—a near doubling within a single year.
The proliferation of lithium-powered technology has fundamentally altered the risk landscape of air travel. The average passenger now boards with four separate lithium battery devices, ranging from smartphones and laptops to vapes and power banks. While these batteries excel at storing substantial energy in compact forms, this very characteristic renders them potentially catastrophic when defective or subjected to thermal stress. Fires ignited by lithium batteries propagate rapidly and prove exceptionally challenging to extinguish.
The critical distinction lies in incident location: cabin fires can be addressed by trained crew using specialized equipment, whereas hold fires may remain undetected until containment becomes impossible. This has precipitated flight diversions and significant operational disruptions. Tim Alderslade of Airlines UK characterizes the situation as a "growing challenge" necessitating preventive measures beginning at the packing stage.
Giuseppe Capanna from Electrical Safety First attributes most incidents to substandard products acquired through third-party vendors, emphasizing the imperative of purchasing tested, certified devices. Passengers must transport such devices in the cabin, restrict power banks to two per person, refrain from onboard charging, and ensure laptops in checked baggage are completely powered down.
