Holidaymakers are being cautioned about a growing concern involving certain items being carried onto airplanes, leading to multiple incidents and a flight diversion. Passengers are advised against stowing power banks or vapes in their checked baggage due to the heightened fire risk associated with lithium batteries, now identified as the primary safety threat to aircraft.
According to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the discovery of such devices in checked bags has nearly doubled in a year, with the average traveler now carrying four different lithium-powered gadgets on board flights.
Lithium batteries are prevalent in various electronics like laptops, vapes, power banks, smartphones, and smartwatches. These batteries, when compromised, can ignite fires that are challenging to contain and spread quickly.
In the previous year, the CAA received nearly 650 reports of batteries in checked luggage, doubling the figures from 2024. Additionally, incidents of batteries overheating or malfunctioning surged to 206.
Malfunctioning batteries in the cabin can be identified and managed promptly. However, if a fire erupts in the cargo hold during a flight, it might go unnoticed until it escalates.
The CAA disclosed that two lithium battery incidents occur weekly, resulting in hazards and flight delays. Recently, an easyJet flight had to divert due to a power bank in the cargo hold. Furthermore, a video circulated online in October depicting a fire onboard an Air China flight.
The CAA is reinforcing the message to passengers, emphasizing prevention as the key to safety. Tim Alderslade, Chief Executive of Airlines UK, stressed the importance of proactive measures starting from passengers packing their belongings.
Giuseppe Capanna, a product safety engineer at Electrical Safety First, highlighted the severe consequences of packing such products in luggage where they are inaccessible in case of emergencies. He underscored the necessity of carrying only tested and safe products while traveling.
Opt for Daily Mirror as a ‘Preferred Source’ on Google News for quick access to your preferred news updates.