Regulator warns of potentially deadly threat from more than 100 million incorrectly packaged batteries | News

Passengers are told to “pack well for a safe flight.”
The UK Civil Aviation Authority is warning passengers that although flying is very safe, the risk from lithium batteries in aircraft is increasing.
Rechargeable lithium batteries, such as power banks and vapes, may pose a fire risk that could be uncontrollable if packed in checked baggage.
Ahead of the big summer holidays, when more than 60 million people are expected to fly, Britain’s Civil Aviation Authority is telling all passengers to “pack appropriately for a safe flight” by taking their batteries in the cabin.

This kicks off a summer campaign in which the UK’s aviation regulator is working with airlines and airports to raise awareness among passengers about the dangers caused by packaging everyday electrical items in the wrong place. Tens of millions of flyers are still expected to pass through UK airports despite the impact of global events, meaning this is unlikely to be a record summer.

Passengers are told to:

Take items such as mobile phones, vapes and power banks on board.
Never charge a power bank during a flight.
Turn off laptops completely when putting them in check-in baggage.
Doing this incorrectly could result in your bags being removed from the flight, which could cause significant delays or, worse, result in a fire that may be impossible to control.

Giancarlo Buono, director of aviation safety at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said:

“Flying is by far the safest way to travel and we would like to keep it that way.

“Pack your belongings well for a safe flight, and that means don’t put the batteries in your checked bag. Take them into the cabin.

“This simple tip will make your flight safer for you and the other passengers you fly with.”

The warning comes as new data shows the scale of the risk, with incidents involving lithium batteries now occurring at around two per week. Figures from the Civil Aviation Authority show that reports of overheated or faulty passenger equipment have almost doubled between 2024 and 2025, following a 98% year-on-year increase. The number of cases of lithium battery-powered devices being incorrectly packed in checked baggage also increased by 91% by 2025.

Nevertheless, passenger awareness remains low. More than a third (36%) of travelers 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 – suggesting that hundreds of batteries could be incorrectly packed during a normal flight.

The average person now travels with four different lithium-powered devices, meaning more than 2,000 on a busy Airbus A380 flight. This means that the risk of fire from lithium batteries is now the biggest safety risk to aircraft according to the UK Civil Aviation Authority.

Power banks and vapes are among the highest risk items and should always be carried in the cabin. You cannot fly with more than two power banks. You should never charge the power bank itself on board the aircraft, but you may be able to charge other devices via the power bank. Please contact the airline in advance or visit our website: caa.co.uk/packright. You can also request cabin crew during the flight.

The warning comes as the first summer crowds begin at British airports and schools in Scotland and Northern Ireland break up. Civil Aviation Authority data shows record numbers traveled through Scottish airports in the early months of 2026.

Gareth Salt, vice president of health, safety and security at Virgin Atlantic said:

“Ahead of our summer season at Virgin Atlantic, it is very important that customers know the guidelines for lithium battery powered devices, including power banks and vapes, and package them correctly.

“We are 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, CEO of Airlines UK, said:

“UK airlines are supporting this important campaign. Flying is the safest form of travel, but as the number of electronic devices we use increases, the risk of incidents involving lithium batteries becomes an increasing challenge.

“While pilots and cabin crew are trained to handle any situation, prevention is always the best outcome, and that starts when passengers pack their bags.

“Electronic devices such as tablets, power banks and vapes should be in your hand luggage, not in the hold. We encourage any passenger traveling this summer to take a moment to check this before zipping up their bag.”

Karen Dee, CEO of AirportsUK, said:

“Everyone in aviation is working hard to ensure that passengers are aware of the rules surrounding the packaging of rechargeable batteries and that we can all fly safely on our summer holidays.

“Through AirportsUK’s health and safety working group and in our work with the CAA, we have developed a clear message: travelers should take any rechargeable batteries they wish to take with them on holiday into the cabin.

“We want everyone to enjoy their summer holidays and to do that we all need to pack well for a safe flight.”