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An EasyJet service from Hurghada to London Luton diverted to Rome after a charging lithium-ion power bank was discovered in a passenger’s checked suitcase, highlighting how European regulators and airports are tightening rules on batteries in baggage.
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Mid-Mediterranean diversion after power bank found in the hold
According to multiple media reports, EasyJet flight EZY2618 departed Hurghada on 19 May 2026 bound for London Luton with around 180 passengers on board. Part way through the flight, while cruising over the Mediterranean, cabin crew were alerted that a power bank was charging a mobile phone inside a suitcase in the aircraft’s cargo hold.
Publicly available incident summaries indicate that the Airbus A320neo, registered G-UZEH, was flying at about 36,000 feet when the flight deck elected to divert to Rome Fiumicino. Tracking data and aviation incident databases show the aircraft landing safely in Rome roughly 30 minutes after the decision was made, with no fire reported and passengers disembarking normally.
Reports from outlets including The Independent, Aviation Herald and regional European news sites describe how passengers were later accommodated in Rome overnight. The flight’s arrival in London was ultimately delayed by around 15 hours, as EasyJet arranged for the onward journey once safety checks on the aircraft and baggage had been completed.
The incident has drawn attention not because of any damage to the aircraft, but because the situation developed even though global guidance already prohibits power banks in checked luggage. The diversion has become a case study in how a single overlooked device can trigger a cascade of disruption for an entire flight.
Why lithium-ion power banks are treated as a special risk
Power banks are classified as lithium-ion batteries, which regulators treat as hazardous goods when carried by air. Guidance published by the International Air Transport Association explains that spare lithium batteries, including power banks, must be carried in cabin baggage rather than checked baggage, where crew can respond quickly to any overheating event.
Technical material from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency describes how lithium-ion cells can enter a state known as thermal runaway if they are damaged, short-circuited or mishandled during charging. In this state, the cell can rapidly overheat and ignite, with the potential to spread to nearby cells, especially when enclosed in a tightly packed device such as a power bank.
In the cabin, airlines train crew and carry specialized equipment to contain and cool lithium battery incidents. In the hold, however, detection and intervention options are more limited. This is one reason many carriers instruct travelers to disconnect power banks, place them in carry-on bags and protect exposed terminals before boarding.
The EasyJet diversion from Hurghada to Rome illustrates the added concern when a power bank is discovered not only in the hold, but still connected and apparently charging a device. Even in the absence of visible smoke or heat, operators are increasingly inclined to treat such discoveries as sufficient reason to divert, in line with a growing safety-first approach to lithium batteries.
Rule changes in 2026 tighten controls across Europe
The incident comes just weeks after updated international specifications for transporting lithium batteries by air took effect on 27 March 2026. The International Civil Aviation Organization issued new technical instructions for power banks and other small lithium-powered devices, prompting regulators in Europe and the United Kingdom to revise their own guidance.
Information published by the UK Civil Aviation Authority notes that, from late March 2026, power banks and spare lithium-ion batteries must be carried only in cabin baggage and are subject to stricter packaging and quantity conditions. Similar material from EASA and national aviation authorities across the European Union emphasizes that airlines should clearly spell out these limits in their operating manuals and passenger information.
Industry summaries of the new rules highlight a complete ban on transporting power banks in checked luggage for most commercial flights operating in Europe and to or from the region. Some carriers, particularly within major airline groups based in Germany and Switzerland, have introduced additional internal restrictions on in-flight charging of power banks and higher-capacity electronics, citing a rise in incidents recorded since 2023.
Travel-industry briefings indicate that airports have also been adjusting security screening procedures to reflect the 2026 changes. Screeners in Rome, London and other hubs are increasingly pulling bags aside when X-ray images show dense electronic clusters, and in some cases asking passengers to remove power banks entirely before bags are placed on the belt.
London, Rome and other hubs increase passenger checks
Following the EasyJet diversion, travelers passing through Rome Fiumicino and London Luton have reported more visible messaging about lithium batteries, including new signage at check-in and security explaining that power banks must not be placed in checked luggage. Social media posts and travel blogs reference staff reiterating the point at boarding gates on flights operated by European low cost and full service airlines alike.
Airport operations updates from several major European hubs describe joint campaigns with airlines to reduce battery-related incidents. These include pre-recorded safety announcements at departure gates, refreshed wording in booking confirmations, and prompts within mobile boarding passes reminding passengers to keep power banks with them rather than in their suitcases.
At London’s larger airports, including Gatwick and Heathrow, anecdotal reports suggest more frequent secondary searches where screeners suspect a power bank is hidden inside a checked bag. In some cases, baggage handlers or airline representatives have reportedly been instructed to stop bags on the ramp if battery icons are spotted on luggage tags or if cargo-screening systems flag unusual heat signatures.
Rome Fiumicino, which handled the diverted EasyJet flight, has been highlighted in Italian-language coverage as an example of an airport moving quickly to align local practices with evolving European standards. Travelers have described ground staff taking extra time during check-in to ask about electronics in luggage, reflecting an emphasis on catching potential problems before bags reach the aircraft.
What travelers need to know before flying with power banks
The tightening of rules in Europe means passengers can no longer rely on informal habits when packing phones, laptops and portable chargers. Publicly available guidance from regulators and airlines converges on several basic principles that now apply on most flights within, to and from European airports.
First, power banks and other spare lithium-ion batteries must generally be packed only in carry-on baggage, with each unit protected from damage and from contact with metal objects that could cause a short circuit. Limits on capacity, usually expressed in watt-hours, remain in place, and travelers carrying higher-capacity devices are often required to seek airline approval in advance.
Second, many operators now discourage or explicitly forbid the use of power banks to charge personal devices during take-off, landing and some cruise phases, and in some markets have barred in-flight charging altogether. These policies are separate from rules covering batteries built into laptops, phones and tablets, which are typically permitted as long as they remain under a defined capacity threshold.
Finally, passengers are being urged through public campaigns to speak up quickly if they realize a power bank or spare lithium battery has been placed in a checked bag. As the EasyJet diversion to Rome shows, an early report allows crew and ground teams to manage the risk under controlled conditions, even if it still results in an unscheduled landing and a disrupted journey.