The UK Civil Aviation Authority has warned passengers to pack lithium-powered devices such as power banks, vapes and spare batteries in their hand luggage instead of checked baggage after a sharp rise in battery-related incidents on flights. The regulator says overheating and malfunction cases nearly doubled between 2024 and 2025 and is urging travellers to follow simple packing rules to reduce the risk of onboard fires during the busy summer travel season.

Officials say holidaymakers may be unaware of the strict rule over the new biggest danger to flights

The US Federal Aviation Administration recorded 644 lithium battery fires onboard flights in the past 20 years, with the global figure stretching into the thousands