Mobile phones, power banks, and e-cigarettes have become one of the most prominent threats to aviation safety worldwide, following an increase in incidents of sudden fires aboard aircraft, causing passenger injuries, flight disruptions, and forced diversions.

At the beginning of this year, an Alaska Airlines flight experienced a serious incident when a phone and a power bank belonging to a female passenger caught fire minutes after takeoff, causing burns to her arms and legs before the cabin crew managed to contain the flames in a fire-resistant bag. The pilots declared an emergency and returned the aircraft to Wichita Airport after deploying oxygen masks in the cabin.

The incident has raised growing concerns in the aviation industry, as airlines and regulators say lithium-ion battery-powered devices have become the fastest-growing source of risk aboard flights. These batteries remain prone to catching fire when defective or overheated, while risks increase as passengers carry more electronic devices during travel, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Hassan Shahidi, president and CEO of the Flight Safety Foundation, confirmed that the number of such incidents has risen significantly in recent years, describing the issue as one of the most important aviation safety challenges today.

Data from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration showed that lithium battery-related incidents more than doubled compared to 2019, while figures for 2026 indicate a potential to exceed last year's record, with about two confirmed incidents per week since the start of the year.

These developments have prompted major airlines to tighten rules on electronic device use in the cabin ahead of the summer travel season. American Airlines, Delta, and Southwest banned placing power banks in overhead bins and imposed restrictions on their use during flights. Germany's Lufthansa, Cathay Pacific, and Singapore Airlines have taken similar measures.

Aviation regulators worldwide have launched awareness campaigns for passengers and new guidelines for cabin crews to reduce fire risks in the cabin. Jonathan Nicholson, spokesperson for the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said this issue has become one of the biggest aviation safety risks globally, warning that minor incidents can quickly escalate into more dangerous situations.

The UK recorded more than 100 incidents of electronic device overheating last year, a 98% increase compared to 2024, according to regulatory data.

These concerns gained additional momentum after a South Korean Air Busan aircraft caught fire last year due to a power bank igniting in an overhead bin, injuring 27 people and completely destroying the plane. The incident prompted new restrictions, including banning e-cigarettes and power banks in checked luggage and limiting the use of portable batteries on flights.

Although cabin crews have successfully extinguished most fires quickly, overheating device incidents are increasingly causing operational disruptions. In April, an SAS flight returned to Aberdeen Airport after a laptop caught fire, while in May, a United Airlines flight headed to Newark was diverted to London after a power bank fire. Last month, a British Airways flight to Las Vegas experienced a mobile phone fire that caused cabin damage and sparked panic among passengers.

These incidents typically occur when batteries are overcharged, damaged, or have technical faults, leading to what is known as 'thermal runaway,' a process where temperatures rise rapidly, causing the battery to ignite spontaneously.

The problem has worsened as the number of devices carried by travelers increases, with regulators noting that the average passenger currently travels with four to five electronic devices. This means more than 2,000 flammable devices aboard some high-capacity long-haul flights.

Changes in passenger behavior have contributed to increased risks, as many now rely on their personal devices instead of in-flight entertainment systems, and use phones for navigating airports, ordering services, and booking transport after arrival.

Fears of battery drain have driven the widespread use of power banks, alongside the rise of e-cigarettes. According to the Thermal Runaway Incident Program database, e-cigarettes caused about 28% of overheating incidents last year, while mobile phones and power banks each accounted for about a fifth of recorded incidents.

Nick Careen, IATA's senior vice president for operations, safety and security, said the proliferation of power banks and e-cigarettes has effectively doubled the amount of lithium batteries aboard aircraft, explaining that it is no longer just one phone and laptop per passenger.

The risks are not limited to the cabin; fires in cargo holds pose an even greater threat because flight crews cannot access them during the flight. Although commercial aircraft are equipped with fire suppression systems in cargo compartments, they are designed primarily to slow the spread of flames rather than completely extinguish them.

A 2010 incident highlighted the scale of the danger when a UPS cargo plane carrying more than 80,000 lithium batteries crashed after a fire broke out in the shipment, destroying the aircraft's control systems within just four minutes and leaving pilots unable to control it.

Commercial flights face additional risks from lithium batteries placed in checked luggage in violation of instructions, or from shipping electronic devices without the required fire-resistant packaging.

Data from the Thermal Runaway Incident Program showed a 40% increase in incidents in cargo holds between 2021 and 2025 in the United States. Additionally, about a quarter of U.S. air cargo is transported on passenger aircraft, meaning travelers are frequently exposed to risks from shipments containing flammable batteries.

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