A routine holiday return flight turned into an unscheduled overnight ordeal for dozens of passengers after a portable charger left active in checked luggage forced an EasyJet aircraft to abandon its route mid-flight and make an emergency landing in Italy.
An EasyJet flight en route from Egypt to London was diverted to Rome’s Fiumicino Airport on Tuesday night after a passenger revealed to cabin crew that a portable power bank had been left actively charging inside luggage stored in the aircraft’s hold triggering an immediate response from the flight deck in accordance with international aviation safety protocols.
Flight EZY2618, travelling from Hurghada, Egypt, to London Luton, was diverted to Rome Fiumicino Airport on Tuesday night as a precautionary measure in line with aviation safety regulations. According to flight tracking data from FlightRadar24, the aircraft had been cruising at 36,000 feet for nearly three hours over the Adriatic Sea when it suddenly changed course, making a sharp left turn before landing in Rome approximately twenty minutes later.
EasyJet later confirmed that after crew were made aware of the power bank charging another device in the passenger’s luggage, the captain took the decision to divert as a precaution in line with safety regulations.
The sudden change in the aircraft’s course prompted alarm among those on board. Passenger Paul Casterton told The Sun: “No one knew what to think. Suddenly, the plane changed direction and made a descent. It was hard not to fear the worst.” He added that passengers were relieved when they learned the cause was a power bank, saying: “Thank goodness it wasn’t a bomb in the hold. Word spread as to the true reason we had been diverted. It was quite an ordeal, but mostly relief that everyone was OK.”
Although no fire or malfunction was reported, lithium-ion batteries found in power banks are considered a significant safety risk on aircraft due to the possibility of overheating or catching fire.
EasyJet said in a statement: “The safety of its customers and crew is easyJet’s highest priority and easyJet operates its fleet of aircraft in strict compliance with all manufacturers’ guidelines. We are sorry for any inconvenience caused by the diversion and subsequent delay.” Passengers were given hotels and meals for the evening before completing their journey to London Luton Airport on Wednesday morning.
The incident has drawn fresh attention to airline regulations surrounding portable battery devices, rules that remain widely misunderstood by travellers. EasyJet’s rules state that power banks are accepted on aircraft in cabin baggage only, are prohibited from use in flight, and must not be used to charge other devices. A maximum of two power banks per customer are permitted, they must not exceed 160 Watt-hours for lithium batteries, and they must be individually protected.
The prohibition on storing power banks in checked luggage is not peculiar to EasyJet it reflects a broader regulatory position shared by aviation authorities worldwide, rooted in the unique fire risk posed by lithium-ion cells in pressurised, inaccessible cargo holds where any resulting blaze would be far harder for crew to detect and contain.
Tuesday’s diversion comes against a backdrop of growing concern across the aviation industry about lithium-ion battery fires. In November 2025, a man suffered burns to his leg and fingers after a lithium power bank in his pocket caught fire at Melbourne International Airport. Earlier, in January 2025, South Korean authorities said a portable power bank was the likely cause of a fire that destroyed a passenger aircraft, leaving three people with minor injuries.
Those incidents have prompted airlines and regulators in multiple jurisdictions to tighten the language around battery device carriage, with enforcement increasingly moving beyond policy documents into pre-boarding screening procedures.
Passengers are advised to ensure that all portable power banks and battery-operated devices are removed from checked luggage prior to boarding and stored only in carry-on bags kept in the cabin. Devices should not be left unattended in a charging state during a flight. Travellers unsure of their airline’s specific rules on battery capacity limits are encouraged to consult their carrier directly before travel.
