A British Airways flight turned back to London Gatwick on Thursday, October 15, after a power bank caught fire in a passenger's pocket, the second in-flight power bank fire Contrail has covered in under a week. The man carrying it was reportedly burned and needed treatment, and other passengers were checked for smoke inhalation.
The fire started about 15 minutes after takeoff, according to a passenger account reported by the London Standard. She said she heard someone shout "fire," smelled something burning and then saw flames halfway down the aisle, calling it the "scariest moment" of her life. Cabin crew put out the fire and made the device safe, and the plane landed back at Gatwick.
British Airways · Gatwick
A Power Bank Fire, 15 Minutes After Takeoff
Contrail
British Airways said in a statement that "safety is always our top priority and our flight landed back at Gatwick following this incident." The airline thanked its crew, apologized for the disruption and rebooked passengers on another flight. The flight number and destination haven't been reported.
Two Fires in Five Days
The Gatwick fire came four days after an IndiGo flight from Delhi to Chennai diverted to Hyderabad when a power bank caught fire inside a bag in an overhead bin. In that case, passengers reportedly smothered the flames with clothing and backpacks.
The two incidents show both sides of the same problem. A charger hidden in an overhead bin can burn for a while before anyone notices, which is why airlines want them kept close. But a charger in your pocket is right against your body if it fails, and that's how the passenger on the BA flight got hurt. Power banks run on lithium-ion batteries, and when one is damaged, poorly made or overheats, it can heat itself faster and faster until it bursts into flames.
The Rules for Flying With a Power Bank Now
The rules tightened this year. Since March 27, 2026, the International Civil Aviation Organization, the UN agency that sets global aviation standards, has limited passengers to two power banks each and banned recharging them during flights. British Airways follows those limits and adds its own:
- Two power banks at most, each no bigger than 100 watt-hours. That covers nearly every phone charger, and the rating is printed on the device.
- Never in the overhead bin. BA requires them in the seat pocket or under the seat in front of you.
- Never in checked bags. The UK's Civil Aviation Authority repeated the reminder after Thursday's fire: power banks and vapes go in the cabin, never in the hold.
- Don't charge the power bank itself on board, including from the plug at your seat.
Some airlines go further. Emirates and Singapore Airlines, for example, don't let passengers use power banks on board at all. The rules follow the airline operating your flight, so check before every trip, especially if you're connecting between airlines.
What to Do if Yours Gets Hot
Look at your power bank before you pack it. If it's swollen, cracked, gets unusually hot while charging or is several years old, replace it, and buy from a known brand rather than the cheapest option online.
On board, keep it somewhere you can see it rather than in a pocket or a closed bag. If it starts to smoke, hiss or feel very hot, don't try to handle it or wrap it up. Tell a flight attendant immediately. Crews are trained and equipped for battery fires, and on Thursday's flight, they put the fire out before the plane made it back to Gatwick.
