POWER banks have been banned from hold luggage for a decade – but some passengers are still not following the rules.
In one case, a plane was recently diverted when a power bank was found charging in the hold, and experts say these problems are ‘on the rise’.
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While they’re ideal for travellers to charge phones and devices – battery powered charging banks are causing chaos for airlines.
The lithium in portable chargers mean that they pose a risk of overheating and even catching fire.
As a result, there has been a ban on having power banks in hold luggage since 2016.
Airlines ask passengers to take portable power banks in hand luggage, but they strictly can’t be used in-flight.
However, not everyone is following the rules.
Just a few days ago, an easyJet flight was forced to divert when a passenger informed crew during the flight that the portable charger was in the hold of the aircraft.
The flight had been heading to London Luton from Hurghada in Egypt but had to land in Rome as a ‘precaution’.
The airline said the captain had decided to divert “in line with safety regulations”.
The flight touched down safely at Rome Fiumicino and was rescheduled to the following day.
Sadly, travel experts say the situation is likely to get worse.
Jonathan Nicholson from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said that incidents involving power banks are “certainly on the rise” as portable chargers grow in popularity.
The CAA said “more awareness” was needed as portable chargers carry “serious risks” of overheating or catching fire.
Jonathan Nicholson urged travellers to follow a “basic set of international rules” when it comes to power banks.
The first is to always take them with you on board the aircraft, not in checked luggage.
The other is to only take a maximum of two power banks per passenger.
When on board the aircraft, don’t use them and “absolutely do not charge the power bank itself because that’s when they become really hot and most susceptible to having an issue”.
A number of airlines have since banned the use of power banks in the cabin as well, after an airline fire last year resulted in the plane being destroyed.