Why your power bank could be a fire hazard on your next flight — and what the rules say

Local technologyTop NewsTourismtravel Why your power bank could be a fire hazard on your next flight — and what the rules say Hermes Airports Asks Passengers To Arrive 3 Hours Before Departure Amid High Traffic Relevant News Why your power bank could be a fire hazard on your next flight — and what the rules say 13 July 2026 Occupied north rejects EU appointment of Fitto as Cyprus problem envoy 13 July 2026 Indian seafarer missing after attack on Cyprus-flagged ship in Hormuz 13 July 2026 Newsroom 13 July 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber Travellers heading off on summer holidays are being warned not to pack power banks in their hold luggage, as aviation authorities raise the alarm over the fire risk posed by lithium batteries in the aircraft cabin. The UK’s Civil Aviation Authority says many passengers remain unaware of the rules — or the potentially catastrophic consequences of getting them wrong. What are the rules? Passengers on UK flights must carry power banks and any other items containing lithium batteries into the cabin. They must never be used to charge another device while airborne, and a maximum of two power banks per person is permitted. Why are power banks dangerous? The risk centres on the lithium-ion battery, the most common type found in power banks. These batteries have a tendency to overheat, which can trigger a thermal runaway — an uncontrolled, self-heating chain reaction in which temperature rises rapidly, potentially causing the battery to explode. Poor design, manufacturing defects and improper use can all set the process in motion. The danger is not theoretical. In January 2026, a power bank caught fire mid-air on a flight between South Korea and Hong Kong. The US Federal Aviation Administration has recorded hundreds of fires, explosions and other safety incidents involving lithium batteries and power banks. In May 2026, a 75-year-old woman in the US died when a power bank exploded while she was charging it. Heat is a particular hazard. In 2026, an Australian man left a power bank in his car on a hot day in Mount Nathan, Queensland; the extreme temperature caused the battery to explode and start a fire. In 2017, a UK family woke to find their home filling with smoke after a power bank charger overheated and caught fire while plugged into a wall socket. What else can go wrong? Beyond fire, power banks can deliver dangerous electric shocks if the device is dropped, gets wet or contains a manufacturing defect, causing the internal circuitry to fail and send a surge of electricity into the user. China, which manufactures a large share of the world’s power banks, has seen manufacturers recall hundreds of thousands of units due to defects. The rise of counterfeit power banks has added to concerns about quality control. What can travellers do? Always charge power banks on hard, non-flammable surfaces. Avoid leaving them in hot environments such as cars on warm days. Buy from reputable manufacturers and check whether your device has been subject to a recall. On flights, keep them in your carry-on luggage and do not use them to charge other devices in the air. (information from The Conversation/Reuters) Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News Occupied north rejects EU appointment of Fitto as Cyprus problem envoy Indian seafarer missing after attack on Cyprus-flagged ship in Hormuz AKEL demands solution to community underdevelopment caused by British Bases Usurpation of British state property AI’s bias against women How many alarm bells are needed to save a child? Three foreign nationals hurt in baton attack near Polis Chrysochous Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.