Flights have had to carry out emergency evacuations because of this issue
Packing a suitcase (stock)(Image: Olga Rolenko)
With thousands of Irish families set to fly out of the country over the coming days for Easter break, many will be nervous about last-minute packing.
Whether it’s worrying about how they could face a staggering 10 years in prison for packing one item, or how airlines have banned certain electric items from hand luggage, there’s plenty to consider.
Now, aviation experts are warning Irish travellers that there are major fire risks on airliners which could be caused by an everyday item in your luggage.
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In 2024, airlines reported an average of two battery fire incidents on aircraft every single week, a 15% increase over five years.
This worrying trend continued in 2025, with the first six months of that year showing 38 more incidents involving smoke, fire or extreme heat on board aircraft.
One in five of these incidents caused travel chaos for passengers by resulting in a diverted landing, emergency evacuation or passengers being forced off the plane.
When a lithium battery catches fire, it can reach temperatures of up to 900°C — hotter than molten lava — within seconds. Unlike normal fires, it generates its own oxygen, so standard fire extinguishers on aeroplanes are ineffective.
The danger was made devastatingly clear in January 2025, when an Air Busan aircraft at Busan airport in South Korea was completely destroyed by a suspected power bank fire in an overhead locker. All 176 people on board were evacuated down emergency slides.
Shane Margereson, vaping expert at Ecigone, said: “A lot of vapers don’t realise they’re breaking the rules when they throw their device in their suitcase — it feels no different to packing a phone charger.”
“But the lithium battery inside a vape is exactly what makes it so dangerous in a cargo hold. The simple rule is: your vape goes in your hand luggage, switched off, not in your checked bag.”
“Remove it from any gate-checked bags too. Keep it in a small pouch in your carry-on where you can get to it quickly. It takes seconds to sort before you travel and it could make the difference between a smooth flight and a serious incident.”
Vapes are now the second biggest cause of battery fire incidents on aircraft, responsible for 28% of all thermal runaway cases according to UL Standards data. Despite this, vapes are placed in checked luggage 31% of the time.
Vapes
British Airways, easyJet, Ryanair, Jet2 and TUI all mandate vapes be transported in hand luggage exclusively, switched off, and never charged during flight. Vaping onboard or within the terminal can lead to penalties of up to £5,000. Vapes discovered in checked luggage are seized immediately – and the bag may be removed from the flight altogether, causing disruption for all passengers aboard.
Power banks
Power banks represent the single largest contributor to battery fire incidents on aeroplanes, accounting for nearly 40% of all occurrences. They are prohibited from checked luggage on all flights under Civil Aviation Authority regulations. Glenn Bradley, Head of Flight Operations at the CAA, is unequivocal: “Any spare batteries are not permitted to fly in checked baggage.” Most carriers limit battery capacity to 100Wh without prior authorisation. Anything exceeding 160Wh is not allowed on passenger aircraft whatsoever.
Arc lighters
Arc lighters are prohibited from both checked and carry-on luggage entirely by aviation authorities – unlike standard disposable lighters, which are allowed. Many travellers are unaware of this. Carrying one risks confiscation and being refused boarding at the gate.
Drones
Drones must be transported in carry-on baggage exclusively. Batteries exceeding 100Wh require prior airline authorisation, and anything above 160Wh is not allowed. Batteries must be detached from the device and individually safeguarded against short circuits. A standard flight with 100 passengers carries over 500 lithium batteries on board amongst mobile phones, laptops, tablets, e-cigarettes and portable chargers. The vast majority of incidents are completely avoidable. Before heading to the airport this spring, inspect your luggage. Take out all battery-operated items from your case. Don’t pack arc lighters. The brief time this requires could prevent disaster on your flight – and potentially much worse.
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