Power Banks Are 'Unscheduled Bombs in the Sky'! Airlines Reveal Why Lithium Batteries Must Be Carried On, Not Checked

Ben Wodecki is accustomed to traveling the world and observing airline crew operations. But in June, flying to Las Vegas, the tech journalist witnessed something he had never seen before: flight attendants with worried expressions rushing to the rear of the aircraft. "There was a flash of fear in their eyes, a seriousness in their demeanor. This wasn't just someone feeling unwell—it was something affecting them personally."

As smoke rose, panicked passengers surged from the back of the plane. The truth became clear: a passenger had used a power bank mid-flight, which overheated, caught fire, and ignited the seat.

Wodecki said the crew placed the device into a container filled with water. He explained that the plane then made a "fast and forceful" landing at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, where firefighters were waiting on the runway.

A routine flight ended dramatically—highlighting why passengers are increasingly and urgently warned about the dangers of carrying battery-powered devices, especially lithium batteries, on aircraft. These warnings include not attempting to retrieve devices that have slipped into seats and pleading with passengers not to place lithium battery devices in checked luggage.

Jonathan Nicholson of the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said lithium-ion batteries are "one of the top three risks in recent years, if not the number one risk" for the aviation industry. He added that a recent US study found two lithium-ion battery-related incidents occur globally each week, affecting the entire industry. These include passengers realizing too late that they left a device in checked baggage, or devices smoking or catching fire in airport baggage claim areas or onboard aircraft.

But the consequences can be even more extreme. In January 2025, a Busan Air aircraft was destroyed on the tarmac at Gimhae Airport in South Korea. Investigators concluded the culprit was a power bank battery left in an overhead compartment.

This prompted the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to launch a global campaign encouraging passengers to "Travel Smart with Lithium Batteries."

Nicholson explained that flying itself doesn't make lithium-ion battery technology more dangerous. Instead, he said, "handling lithium-ion battery issues at 32,000 feet (9,600 meters) in the passenger cabin is far more difficult."

Nicholson attributed the prevalence of lithium battery incidents to "more people, more flights, more devices."

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated that battery safety is a top priority. Its data shows "confirmed incidents continue to rise," with 51 incidents confirmed by July 15, 2025.

Pierre Kubiak, Chief Engineer specializing in battery technology at the UK’s National Physical Laboratory, added that while smartphones, power banks, tablets, and laptops are the most obvious portable devices people bring onboard, smartwatches, smart glasses, and e-cigarettes are becoming increasingly common.

"Lithium itself doesn't burn; it's the organic materials and plastics inside that ignite," he explained. "The key issue is how rapidly it heats up—temperatures can quickly exceed 700 to 1,000 degrees Celsius."

A series of smartphone fires about a decade ago truly brought lithium-ion battery dangers into public consciousness. Kubiak said these stemmed from design flaws, which manufacturers have since addressed. He added that South Korea leads in this field.

However, curbing the flood of cheap battery packs, e-cigarettes, and other poorly quality-controlled electronic devices from East Asia is not easy. "Price dictates everything," he said. He also noted that passengers often worsen the problem by using unsuitable charging cables and neglecting device maintenance.

This leaves airlines with no choice but to reiterate warnings and stick to proven methods, ensuring staff are trained to respond quickly when incidents occur.

Nicholson of the UK CAA emphasized that "the most important thing is to cool it by submerging in water," although some airlines do use specialized sealed containers. Crucially, these devices must be kept in the cabin, not in overhead bins, and certainly not in the cargo hold.

Nicholson added that passengers generally accept these warnings and restrictions well. The biggest issue, he said, is that passengers often don’t realize how many devices rely on lithium-ion battery technology.

Kubiak added that there is currently no economically viable alternative to lithium battery technology. The tech and personal device industries have invested heavily in this technology.

Sodium-ion batteries are also a potential alternative, Kubiak said, but currently the technology costs twice as much as lithium batteries. "This isn't just a technical solution—it's a societal solution we must adopt."

He suggested greater emphasis should be placed on safeguarding existing technology. "We don't necessarily want to ban batteries from all aircraft."

This article was originally written in English. We used AI to assist with translation, and it was reviewed by BBC journalists before publication. Learn more about how we use AI.