For years, airline passengers were told to switch off their mobile phones during flights over concerns they could interfere with aircraft systems. Today, aviation experts say a different threat is drawing far greater attention: the lithium-ion batteries inside everyday electronic devices.
Mobile phones, power banks, e-cigarettes and other portable electronics are now considered the fastest-growing in-flight safety risk, as faulty or overheated lithium-ion batteries can ignite and cause fires aboard aircraft.
Although the danger is not new, aviation authorities and airlines say the increasing number of electronic devices carried by passengers has significantly raised the risk. Hassan Shahidi, CEO of the Flight Safety Foundation, told The Wall Street Journal that incidents involving lithium batteries have steadily increased over the years.
In the United States, confirmed lithium battery incidents have more than doubled since 2019, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Current figures suggest 2026 could surpass last year’s record, with around two confirmed incidents reported each week since January.
Airlines Tighten Safety Rules
In response, airlines around the world have introduced stricter policies ahead of the busy summer travel season.
American Airlines, Delta and Southwest have banned passengers from storing power banks in overhead luggage compartments and have tightened rules on their use during flights. Lufthansa, Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines have adopted similar measures.
Aviation regulators have also issued updated guidance to cabin crews and launched campaigns to raise passenger awareness.
Jonathan Nicholson, a spokesperson for the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority, described lithium battery fires as “one of the top, if not the top, aviation safety risk in the world right now,” warning that even seemingly minor incidents can escalate quickly.
The UK recorded more than 100 overheating incidents involving electronic devices last year, an increase of 98% compared with 2024.
Concerns intensified after an Air Busan aircraft in South Korea was destroyed by a fire that investigators linked to a power bank stored in an overhead compartment. Twenty-seven people were injured in the incident, prompting regulators to introduce stricter rules, including bans on placing power banks and e-cigarettes in checked baggage and additional restrictions on their use during flights.
Why Lithium Batteries Can Catch Fire
Lithium-ion batteries are most vulnerable when they are damaged, defective or overcharged. In such cases, they can enter a process known as thermal runaway, in which rapidly rising temperatures trigger a fire.
The growing number of electronic devices carried by travelers is adding to the challenge. Aviation authorities estimate that passengers now typically travel with four or five battery-powered devices each, meaning a large long-haul aircraft could carry more than 2,000 lithium-powered items.
Changing travel habits have also contributed to increased power bank use. More passengers rely on personal devices for entertainment, airport navigation, onboard services and arranging transportation after landing, making portable chargers an essential travel accessory.
According to the Thermal Runaway Incident Program database, e-cigarettes accounted for around 28% of overheating incidents last year, while power banks and mobile phones were each responsible for about one-fifth of reported cases.
Fires in Cargo Holds Pose Greater Risks
Battery fires that begin in cargo holds or checked baggage present an even greater hazard because cabin crews cannot access the area during flight.
Commercial airlines also face risks from passengers who mistakenly pack lithium batteries in checked luggage and from improperly packaged electronic shipments.
Data from the Thermal Runaway Incident Program show that cargo-hold battery incidents in the United States increased by 40% between 2021 and 2025, underscoring growing concerns across the aviation industry.
