On 19 May 2026, Easyjet flight 2618 diverted to Rome when a female passenger told the crew that her power bank was charging her phone in her checked-in baggage.
Easyjet Airbus A320 was carrying around 180 passengers and was en route to London Luton from Hurghada, Egypt. A lady passenger told the crew that her power bank, which is actively charging her phone, is in her luggage, which is loaded in the cargo hold. The captain, while keeping safety as first priority, diverted the plane to the nearest airport, Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO).
The captain briefed the passengers about “something we shouldn’t have in the hold.” The flight landed safely,, and everyone was given overnight hotel accommodation in Rome, and on the next day, the flight continued to Luton.
Dangerous Goods/Technical InstructionsICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) sets the global standards through the Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air (Doc 9284).
Why This Was a Serious Issue
Power banks (lithium-ion batteries) fall under the category of Dangerous Goods under the IATA Manual. Due to overcharging, the battery catches fire, and in cargo holds, it is extremely difficult to extinguish the fire. The passenger’s power bank was actively charging the phone, which is strictly prohibited.
Key Rules for Power Banks
| Item | Carry-On (Hand Luggage) | Checked Baggage (Hold) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Bank | Allowed | Forbidden | Must be in cabin only |
| Max Capacity | Up to 100Wh / less than 20,000mAh | Never | 100–160Wh needs airline approval |
| Quantity | Max 2 per passenger | 0 | EasyJet & most airlines |
| In Use / Charging | Not recommended / often banned during flight | Forbidden | Especially while in hold |
IATA – Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR)IATA (International Air Transport Association) publishes the Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR), which most airlines follow in practice (67th Edition effective 2026).
Read More About: 10 Reasons Why Airlines Offload Passenger Baggage?
How would this have happened?
Every baggage at the airport has to go through from 2 secruity scanners before loading on the aircraft. One is installed at the entry, and the second is at the segregation area when you submit your checked luggage, and it goes down from the belt. The same goes for your hand-carry baggage; it also went from 2 security scanners.
Possibility
Commonly, the hand carry is also accepted at the boarding gate because there is very limited space in the overhead compartment. The flight was also almost full. The female passenger would have kept her phone and power bank in her hand carry, which would have been taken from her at the boarding gate to load at the cargo hold. That’s how the power bank ended up in the cargo hold.
Easyjets Statements“Flight EZY2618 from Hurghada to Luton on May 19 diverted to Rome Fiumicino as the crew were informed a power bank was charging in luggage. The captain then diverted as a precaution in line with safety regulations. Safety is our highest priority.”
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