A Swiss International Air Lines flight from Zurich to New York's JFK airport was forced to make an unscheduled landing in Bangor, Maine, after smoke filled the cabin, The Sun reported.
The smoke came from a damaged charging case for wireless earbuds that had fallen between seats, become stuck and overheated. The crew decided to land the plane urgently because of the incident.
Lithium battery incidents on the rise
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said incidents involving lithium batteries have been increasing recently. These batteries power not just earbud cases but also power banks and many other popular gadgets.
The CAA said devices with lithium batteries, including power banks, e-cigarettes, Bluetooth speakers, portable electric fans, fitness trackers, smartwatches, digital cameras, wireless earbuds and their charging cases, tablets, e-readers and laptops, must be carried only in hand luggage, not in checked baggage. Passengers should tell cabin crew immediately if any of these devices starts overheating or smoking during a flight.
Improper packing can delay flights
The CAA warned that incorrectly carrying lithium battery devices can cause flight delays or cancellations. In May, an easyJet flight bound for London Luton Airport was forced to land in Rome after a passenger told the crew that a portable charger was in the cargo hold.
The CAA said 36% of passengers do not realize the danger of carrying lithium batteries in checked baggage, even though 92% travel with a mobile phone, 55% with a laptop and 49% with a power bank. The authority records about two lithium battery incidents a week on average, some of which lead to delays or forced landings.
