Please stop packing electronic equipment in your checked luggage.

I get it. It’s stressful when airport staff rush you through the check-in line. But that doesn’t give you a reason to lie when they ask you about carrying items with lithium-ion batteries in your checked luggage. It’s too big of a risk to ignore, and if you really don’t know the answer to that question, it’s your fault anyway. It’s important to know the ins and outs of your gear so you can keep yourself and those around you safe.

Where are lithium-ion batteries used?

A lithium-ion battery is found in every technological device that can be charged. So if you are not sure whether your device contains one, simply consider whether it charges electrically. Examples of lithium-ion devices include laptops, cell phones, electric bikes, vaporizers, electronic cigarettes, and chargers.

Why are lithium-ion batteries a danger?

They are not. A Li-on battery is not dangerous in itself. It only becomes a threat when it overheats. There can be many reasons for it to get hot, and none of them are obvious enough for us to notice. Therefore, it is a good idea to avoid this risk altogether and not give away a device containing a lithium battery.

Earlier this week, CBS station KDKA aired a short segment reporting on the rise in air travel incidents involving lithium-ion batteries. Apparently, there has been an unprecedented 28% increase in the past five years, with a total of 37 incidents reported in 2024 alone.

Worse, most of these incidents were due to insufficient knowledge on the subject. The report emphasizes that most travelers are unaware that lithium-ion batteries pose a risk. This reminds us of the incident in July at San Francisco Airport, when an American Airlines passenger’s laptop began smoking and the fire department eventually had to submerge it in water. She later confessed that she had “used it forever,” so she thought it was safe.

Why is the lithium-ion battery dangerous?

A lithium-ion battery only becomes dangerous when it overheats. NBAA explains that when batteries overheat, they enter a state called thermal runaway. This is a “rapid, uncontrolled chemical reaction” and can result in one or more of a range of consequences. This includes “overheating, emitting smoke, bursting into flames, or even exploding — sending chunks of white, hot gel flying in all directions.”

Overheating can occur due to battery damage. For example, dropping a laptop charger once can also cause minor internal damage that would make the charger a potential hazard. Of course, we don’t keep track of all the times we drop our devices, and we may be completely unaware of other times when they get damaged. It’s therefore easier and safer to view all lithium-ion battery-powered devices as potential hazards.

According to AvSax, a perfectly good battery can also overheat if it gets lost in an airplane seat. The friction it causes with the seat material, especially if you leave it unattended for a while, can cause it to overheat, smoke, or even catch fire.

Another reason a battery could be a risk is if it is a grey market purchase and does not meet the quality standards of the OEM device. In such cases, it will be more prone to heating up even under normal charging conditions.

Gain knowledge about technological threats

The report mentions that the average passenger carries four battery-powered devices on board. Multiply that by the number of passengers on the plane and you get a sense of just how much risk is involved with each flight. It also presents some pretty shocking facts, such as 44% of Americans claiming they “don’t know anything about these batteries,” while 60% don’t realize they power most of the technology they use regularly. It gets even worse. Less than a third of passengers said they’re not concerned about the risk these batteries pose.

Your personal technical equipment should always be with you in the upper cabin. This way, if overheating occurs, the cabin crew can take action more easily and quickly, unlike a fire in checked baggage, which would be obvious once sufficient damage has been caused.