EasyJet flight diverted to Rome over passenger's portable charger

A routine easyJet flight carrying 180 passengers from Hurghada, Egypt, to London was unexpectedly diverted to Rome on May 19 due to a passenger's portable charger being detected in the cargo hold. The incident occurred three hours into the flight when a passenger alerted cabin crew that their power bank was in the luggage area and potentially active.

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Nobody knew what was going on. Suddenly the plane changed direction and started to descend. It was difficult not to think of the worst.

Acting swiftly, the captain decided to reroute the aircraft to Rome's Fiumicino Airport, where it landed safely just 20 minutes later. The passengers were provided with overnight hotel accommodation before being transferred to London on a different flight the following day. Paul Casterton, who was traveling with his partner, described the situation as highly stressful, noting the uncertainty and the fear of the worst when the plane changed course and began descending.

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The captain acted in accordance with regulations.

The incident highlights growing concerns over the safety of portable chargers. Many airlines are now implementing strict regulations due to an increasing number of overheating and fire incidents associated with these devices. EasyJet permits portable chargers only in hand luggage and prohibits their use for charging other devices during flights. Placing them in checked baggage is strictly forbidden. Other major airlines, including Lufthansa, Ryanair, and British Airways, have also introduced similar stringent measures, with Lufthansa completely banning power banks on flights.

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We apologize for the inconvenience this incident caused.