Dangerous Goods

Some of the goods we use in our everyday life seem harmless: hair sprays, lithium batteries, perfume, matches… However they may be very dangerous when transported by air. For your own safety, and to avoid potential fines, it is very important that you carefully read the dangerous goods information provided by your airline before your flight.

 

Lithium batteries

Lithium batteries are contained in many items of frequent use. Your cell phone, your laptop, tablet or even camera are powered by rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. When damaged, short-circuited or overheated, these batteries can catch fire.

You should carry your portable electronic devices (PEDs, such as cameras, laptops and phones) in your hand baggage (carry-on), and not in your checked baggage. Under normal circumstances, we can use our laptops, eReaders, tablets or MP3 players on board for working, reading, listening to music or watching movies. Even our cell phones can be used on most airplanes for i.e. playing simple games. However, keep in mind that PEDs may interfere with the airplane equipment and this differs from one type of aircraft to another. This is why airlines require to switch them to “airplane mode” at all times.

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Although not recommended, if you need to pack your electronic device in your checked baggage, you have to make sure that the devices are completely switched off and protected from accidental activation. Spare batteries and power banks, however, always have to be transported in your carry-on baggage - never in your checked baggage - and they must be individually protected to prevent short-circuits. E-cigarettes must always be in your hand baggage.

Also, spare batteries, including power banks, should not be recharged while on board the aircraft. Additionally, power banks should not be connected or providing power to a device while on board the aircraft.

Whether in your carry-on or checked baggage – the battery must not exceed a certain watt-hour (Wh), and should be bought from original retailers only and never from untrustworthy sources.

Here you will find more practical information on lithium batteries, how to carry and pack them, and how to react if your device gets too hot, or also if it gets lost in the cabin.

E-cigarettes

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) contain a battery and a heating element that vaporizes a liquid vapour to simulate tabacco smoking.

Several incidents were reported to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) involving e-cigarettes overheating resulting in a fire in checked baggage. For this reason, these devices can only be carried in the cabin, and it is forbidden to recharge them while on board the aircraft.

See Safety Information Bulletin on Fire Risk of Electronic Cigarettes in Checked Baggage (SIB 2015-06R1).

Personal transportation devices

Small lithium battery powered personal transportation devices, also known as hoverboards, self-balancing devices or gravity boards, were one of the most sold devices recently. However, there have been incidents where these items or their batteries overheated, caught fire and even exploded.

Passengers are not allowed to carry these batteries in their checked bag, as batteries have a rating of 100 Wh or more. Because of the high risk posed by these devices, many airlines have decided to additionally restrict their transport in the cabin.
It is therefore safer to leave these items at home when flying. 

See Safety Information Bulletin on Carriage of Personal Transportation Devices (SIB 2016-04). 

Damaged, Defective or Recalled Lithium Batteries

Lithium ion cells and batteries that have been identified by the manufacturer as being defective for safety reasons, or that have been damaged, that have the potential of producing a dangerous evolution of heat, fire or short circuit (e.g. those being returned to the manufacturer for safety reasons) can be very dangerous and passengers should avoid to carry them. Additional precautions should be taken when one of these items is identified to be on board.

See Safety Information Bulletin on Safety Precautions regarding the Transport by Air of Damaged, Defective or Recalled Lithium Batteries (SIB 2017-01R1).