Airline passengers are urged to be more careful when transporting electronic devices with lithium batteries. Such batteries can cause dangerous situations during a flight, writes the British publication The Sun.
Recently, a Swiss International Air Lines plane flying from Zurich to New York's John F. Kennedy Airport was forced to make an unscheduled landing in Bangor, Maine, USA. The reason was smoke in the cabin.
It turned out that the smoke appeared due to a damaged case for wireless headphones. It fell between the seats, got stuck there, and overheated. The crew decided to land the aircraft urgently.
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) notes that the number of incidents involving lithium batteries has been growing recently. Such batteries are used not only in headphones, but also in power banks, smartphones, laptops, and other popular gadgets.
Experts remind that all devices with lithium batteries must be transported only in hand luggage, not in the aircraft's hold.
Such devices include:
- power banks;
- electronic cigarettes and vapes;
- Bluetooth speakers;
- portable fans;
- fitness trackers and smartwatches;
- digital cameras;
- wireless headphones and their charging cases;
- tablets;
- e-readers;
- laptops.
If any of these devices begins to overheat, smoke, or emit an unusual smell during a flight, passengers are advised to immediately inform the flight attendants.
The CAA warns that improper transportation of such devices can lead to flight delays or even cancellations. For example, in May, an easyJet plane, a British low-cost airline, heading to London Luton Airport, was forced to land in Rome after a passenger reported that their portable charging device was in the baggage hold.
According to the British regulator, many travelers are still unaware of the rules for transporting lithium batteries. About 36% of passengers do not understand the dangers of having such batteries in checked luggage. Meanwhile, 92% of people take smartphones when traveling, 55% take laptops, and 49% take power banks.
Experts note that, on average, about two incidents related to lithium batteries are recorded every week.
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