The Civil Aviation Authority has issued an urgent safety warning today after a surge in fires caused by lithium-ion batteries in power banks and vapes on UK aircraft. The CAA says these devices now pose a greater fire risk than traditional items like laptops and phones, with incidents doubling in the past year. For working people, this is another cost-of-living blow: many rely on power banks for their daily commute and vapes to manage stress.
The warning comes amid reports of cabin crew being forced to tackle battery fires with specialised containment bags. Unions are calling for clearer rules on carrying these items, with some arguing that airlines must provide safe charging options at gates rather than bans that penalise passengers. The CAA advises keeping devices in hand luggage and never charging them on board unless absolutely necessary.
For the average worker heading to a zero-hours contract or a night shift, this is just one more thing to worry about. We'll bring you more as this story develops.
