CAA warns of risks posed by incorrectly packed batteries

Ahead of the big summer getaway where over 60 million people are expected to be flying, the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is telling all passengers to ‘pack right for a safe flight’ by taking their batteries in the cabin with them.

This kicks off a summer campaign with the UK’s aviation regulator working alongside airlines and airports to raise awareness among passengers of the dangers caused by everyday electrical items being packed in the wrong place. Tens of millions of flyers are still expected through UK airports despite the impact of global events meaning this won’t likely be a record breaking summer.

Passengers are being told to:

• Take items like mobile phones, vapes and power banks on board with you.
• Never charge a power bank on a flight.
• Turn off laptops completely if they’re going to be put in check in bags.

Getting it wrong could lead to your bags being removed from the flight causing significant delays or even worse, result in a fire that may be impossible to contain.

Giancarlo Buono, Director of Aviation Safety at the UK Civil Aviation Authority said: “Flying is by far the safest way to travel and we want to keep it that way.

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

“This simple tip will make your flight safer for you, and the other passengers you’re flying with.”

The warning comes as new data reveals the scale of the risk, with lithium battery incidents now occurring at around two per week. Civil Aviation Authority figures show reports of overheating or malfunctioning passenger devices nearly doubled between 2024 and 2025, following a 98% year-on-year increase. Cases of lithium battery-powered devices being incorrectly packed in checked baggage also rose by 91% in 2025.

Despite this, passenger awareness remains low. Over a third (36%) of travellers 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 hundreds of batteries could be incorrectly packed on a typical flight.

The average person now takes four different lithium powered devices on trips, meaning there are over 2,000 on a busy Airbus A380 flight. This means the fire risk posed by lithium batteries is now the number one safety risk to aircraft according to the UK Civil Aviation Authority.

Power banks and vapes are some of the highest risk items and must always be taken with you into the cabin. You cannot fly with more than two power banks. You must never charge the power bank itself onboard the aircraft but you may be able to charge other devices from the power bank – check with the airline beforehand or on our website: caa.co.uk/packright. You can also ask cabin crew on the flight.

The warning comes as the first summer rush on UK airports begin as schools break up in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Civil Aviation Authority data shows that the initial months of 2026 saw record numbers travel through Scottish airports.

Gareth Salt, Vice President of Health, Safety and Security at Virgin Atlantic said: “Ahead of our peak summer travel season at Virgin Atlantic, it’s really important that customers know the guidance for lithium battery-powered devices, including power banks and vapes, and pack them correctly.

“We’re 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, Chief Executive of Airlines UK, said: “UK airlines support this important campaign. Flying is the safest form of travel but as the number of electronic devices we use increases, the risk of lithium battery incidents is a growing challenge.

“Whilst pilots and cabin crew are trained to deal with any situation the best outcome is always prevention, which starts when passengers pack their bags.

“Electronic devices like tablets, power banks and vapes belong in your hand luggage, not the hold. We’d urge every passenger heading away this summer to take a moment to check before they zip up their bag.”

Karen Dee, Chief Executive of AirportsUK, said: “Everyone in aviation is working hard to ensure that passengers are aware of the rules around the packing of rechargeable batteries and that we can all fly off on our summer holidays safely.

“Through the AirportsUK health and safety working group and in our work with the CAA, we have developed a clear message: travellers must bring any rechargeable batteries they wish to take on their holidays with them into the cabin.

“We want everyone to be able to enjoy their summer holidays and to do that, we should all pack right for a safe flight.”