easyJet flight diverted to Rome after power bank charging in luggage

An easyJet flight from Hurghada, Egypt, to London Luton was diverted to Rome Fiumicino after the crew were told a power bank was charging in a passenger’s luggage, a reminder that lithium batteries are now one of aviation’s most closely watched hazards.

The aircraft, EZY2618, was carrying about 180 passengers when the captain diverted the flight to Rome on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, easyJet said, as a precaution in line with safety regulations. Passengers were put up in hotels overnight and the flight was rescheduled to continue the following day. The airline’s account shows how quickly a battery issue can turn into an operational disruption when crew believe a device may be overheating or mis-stowed.

The concern is straightforward: lithium-ion batteries can overheat and catch fire. That risk has pushed regulators and airlines to tighten rules on power banks, spare lithium cells and other rechargeable devices. The UK Civil Aviation Authority says new rules on the carriage of lithium cells, batteries and power banks took effect on March 27, 2026, following an addendum from the International Civil Aviation Organization. The International Air Transport Association has also updated its 2026 passenger guidance to reflect the change.

The rule travelers most often get wrong is the baggage split. Power banks belong in carry-on bags, not checked luggage. The Transportation Security Administration says portable chargers and power banks containing a lithium-ion battery must be packed in carry-on bags and are prohibited in checked baggage. easyJet’s own dangerous-goods guidance lists power banks among restricted items, alongside other products that can be problematic in flight. The Federal Aviation Administration gives similar advice for U.S. travel.

That matters because airline policies now vary in how strictly they interpret and enforce battery rules, especially after a run of recent aviation incidents involving batteries and charging devices. For passengers, the safest approach is to check the airline’s dangerous-goods rules before packing, keep power banks in cabin baggage, and never place a charger in a checked suitcase. On routes such as Hurghada to London Luton, where a battery issue can force a diversion to Rome Fiumicino, the difference between carry-on and checked luggage can decide whether a trip ends on schedule or in an overnight hotel.