Accidentally Left Power Bank in Checked Luggage? Here’s What to Know

If you accidentally left your power bank in checked luggage, you could run into issues at the airport. Power banks contain lithium-ion batteries, which are not allowed in the cargo hold on most airlines due to fire risk. Your bag may be delayed, removed from the flight, or the power bank may be confiscated.

This guide will walk you through what happens when a power bank ends up in the hold, what you can do to fix the situation quickly, and how to avoid this hassle in the future.

alt: Power bank and luggage at airport

Why Power Banks Don’t Belong in Checked Bags

Power banks may seem harmless, but in aviation, they’re treated as dangerous goods. The reason is simple: they contain lithium-ion batteries, which can short-circuit, overheat and trigger a chain reaction called thermal runaway, releasing flames and toxic gases that spread to neighbouring cells.

In the cabin, crew can spot and smother a smoking device in seconds, but the aircraft hold is sealed, far harder to access, and with limited fire suppression. That can turn a small problem into a dangerous emergency.

These risks aren’t just theoretical. In 2024, the US FAA logged 89 incidents involving battery fires on flights—more than one a week. Several were linked to power banks. By early 2025, nearly 20 more cases had already been reported.

That’s why aviation rules are made crystal clear:

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) says power banks must be carried in the cabin and are not allowed in hold baggage. The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) follows the same guidance. In fact, most global and European aviation bodies explicitly ban packing power banks in checked luggage.

There are also strict watt-hour (Wh) limits on battery size:

• Power banksunder 100 Wh are usually fine to bring in your carry-on.
• If your battery pack is between 100 and 160 Wh, you can still take it onboard, but you’ll need airline approval first—and you’re generally limited to two spares per person.
• Anything over 160 Whis completely banned for passengers.

So, if you’re wondering, can you put power banks in hold luggage, the answer is no across all airlines. Due to fire risk, power banks must be under 100 Wh and stored in your hand luggage, where they can be monitored and quickly removed if needed.

What Airlines Do When They Find One

If a power bank in hold luggage is discovered, most airlines follow a clear process to remove the item before it becomes a safety issue:

During the X-ray scan

All hold luggage is X-rayed before being loaded. A power bank’s rectangular cells show up clearly, so screeners flag the bag and pull it off the belt.

If you’re still landside, staff may be able to page you to return to the check-in area or security desk, so you can open the suitcase and remove the device.

But this can cause delays, missed flights, or recheck fees if the issue isn’t resolved quickly.

After bag-drop but before loading

Hold bags go through additional screening behind the scenes. By this stage, you’ve likely already cleared security. If a power bank is detected, staff generally won’t call you back—instead, they’ll remove the battery themselves, place a notice inside, and send your bag on.

If there’s not enough time, your bag may be taken off the flight and sent later. Either way, the power bank is confiscated and won’t be returned.

If the device slips through

If a power bank goes unnoticed and overheats in the hold, the crew may get a fire warning. Modern aircraft can release halon extinguishers, but the captain may still divert to the nearest airport as a precaution, as seen in several 2024–25 incident reports.

What You Should Do at the Airport?

If you realise you’ve accidentally put power bank in checked luggage, don’t panic—but don’t wait, either. Acting quickly can help avoid flight delays, bag issues, or having your device confiscated.

If the bag’s already on the belt but you’re still landside

Head straight to your airline’s check-in desk. Staff can contact baggage control to intercept the suitcase and allow you to remove the device before it’s screened or loaded.

Do not wait until boarding or assume it will be overlooked. British Airways and other UK carriers say it’s much quicker—and far less stressful—to deal with this early, rather than facing a delayed bag or losing your power bank later.

If you’ve already cleared security

Let a gate agent know as soon as possible. At this point, your bag may already be in the baggage-handling system. Airports like Heathrow and Gatwick make it clear that bags with undeclared power banks may simply be held back and left off the flight if there’s no time to resolve the issue.

If you’re already in the air when you remember

Tell a crew member. While the risk of fire is low, they’ll monitor the situation and follow safety protocols. If a fire warning does go off, the captain may choose to divert as a precaution.

Flight Prep Tips to Help You Avoid This

Avoiding power bank issues starts with a bit of planning before you leave home. These tips will help you stay compliant, safe, and stress-free at the airport:

Choose power banks within Wh limits

As we talked about, power banks under 100 Wh are fine to bring in your carry-on without paperwork. If your power bank is between 100Wh and 160Wh, you’ll need airline approval, and you’re usually limited to two of them per person.

Anything over 160Wh can’t go in your luggage at all—it has to be shipped as cargo. These rules are pretty consistent across IATA regulations, CAA guidance, TSA policies, and most airlines worldwide.

Not sure what your power bank’s capacity is in watt-hours? If it only shows mAh, here’s a quick formula: mAh × V ÷ 1,000 = Wh. Most lithium power banks run at 3.7V, so 100Wh works out to about 27,000mAh. Anything below that is generally good to go.

If you’re looking for a new power bank that’s guaranteed to fly with you, check out these top-rated models from Anker:

With a 25,000 mAh cell bank that converts to about 90 Wh, this Anker Laptop Power Bank remains flight-legal while carrying enough energy for long-haul work sessions. Three USB-C ports each push up to 100W alone, and, together with the USB-A slot, they deliver a 165W combined output, so a MacBook, tablet and phone can all fast-charge at once without throttling.

One built-in lanyard USB-C cable and another retractable USB-C cable mean fewer loose leads in your bag, and the same 100W pathway refuels the pack itself in less than two hours—handy when you’re hotel-hopping.

alt: Anker Laptop Power Bank 165W

Only 14.7 mm thick and 200 g light, the Anker MagGo Power Bank (10K, Slim) slips into a jacket pocket yet stores 10,000 mAh, well under airline limits. Its party trick is Qi2-certified 15W magnetic wireless charging.

Just snap it onto the back of your iPhone 15 and you’ll go from zero to 50% in about 45 minutes—no cables needed. And if you do want to plug in, the 30W bi-directional USB-C port is ready for fast wired charging or recharging the bank itself in a flash.

alt: Anker MagGo Power Bank 10K Slim

If you value wireless charging, the 5,000 mAh Anker 622 Magnetic Battery is a budget-friendly safety net that clings securely to any MagSafe iPhone. 9N magnets keep it locked in place, and a fold-away kick-stand props the screen for streaming while the battery delivers up to 7.5W wireless or faster USB-C power. At just half an inch thick and roughly 140 g, thanks to Anker’s MiniCell tech, it vanishes into a jeans pocket until needed.

alt: Anker 622 Magnetic Battery

Pack a dedicated “battery pouch” in your carry-on

Slip all chargers, cables, e-cigarettes, spare batteries and your power bank into one designated soft pouch, then stash it in your hand luggage. This helps you avoid accidentally packing lithium batteries in a checked bag.

It also makes things quicker at security and, if you’re asked to check your cabin bag at the gate, much easier to remove everything battery-related before handing it over.

Tape over exposed terminals

Use insulating caps, tape or purpose-made battery covers, so exposed USB ports can’t short-circuit. Both IATA and the UK CAA flag unprotected terminals as a confiscation trigger.

Do a last-minute check before heading out

A quick scan for power banks, vape pens, and spare batteries can save you hassle later. The CAA has issued public warnings about rising incidents, so it’s worth doing a final check before leaving home—and again if your carry-on ends up being gate-checked.

Conclusion

If you’ve accidentally left power bank in checked luggage, it can lead to missed flights, delayed bags, or loss of the device. Airlines have clear rules against storing lithium batteries in the cargo hold because of the fire risk. Before heading to the airport, take a moment to double-check your electronics. Make sure your power bank is under 100 Wh and kept in your hand luggage, where they’re allowed. It’s a small step that can save you a lot of trouble later on.

FAQs

What happens if I accidentally have a lithium battery in my checked bag?

If a lithium battery—like a power bank, e-cigarette, or spare battery—is found in your checked luggage, airport security will usually intercept the bag during screening. If you’re still landside, you may be called back to remove the item. If the bag has already entered the baggage-handling system, staff will often remove the battery themselves and send your bag on—though it may be delayed or travel on a later flight. The battery is typically confiscated and won’t be returned.

Why can’t power banks go in checked baggage?

Power banks are classified as spare lithium-ion batteries and are strictly prohibited in checked baggage due to the risk of “thermal runaway”—a chain reaction that can cause the battery to overheat, catch fire, or even explode. Such incidents are extremely dangerous in the aircraft hold, where detection and containment are more challenging. For safety, the CAA mandates that power banks must be carried in hand luggage only.