More than 350 dangerous goods reported to Irish Aviation Authority in 2025
Ken Foxe
Battery fires, faulty power banks, and overheating vapes and mobile phones were among more than 350 dangerous goods reports made to the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) last year.
Figures showed that batteries and personal electronic devices were by far the most common items reported by airlines, airports, cargo operators, and other aviation bodies.
IAA data listed 91 reports where batteries or devices overheated, emitted smoke, caught fire, or showed signs of electrical issues.
In 57 of those cases, the aircraft was in cruise, while others happened while planes were parked, taxiing, descending, climbing, or on final approach.
The records said 17 of the reports led to at least some disruption, including one flight diverting to the nearest airport, one returning to its departure airport, and one case where an item was “thrown out [the] window.”
Two of the reports involved “explosion and heat,” three involved fire, and three were logged as “smell and smoke.”
There were five cases where an item was “swollen with heat,” ten involving smoke, and 12 of “heat and smoke.”
Another 17 cases were reported of items that were “swollen [or] cracked” and 36 where an item was found to be hot.
There were an overall total of 355 dangerous goods reports in 2025, according to a slideshow presentation from the aviation authority.
Batteries accounted for the largest share, while 18 concerned dry ice and 12 involved weapons or munitions.
There were a further 12 reports relating to flammable liquids, eight about gas, four concerning biological substances and three involving radioactive material.
The IAA presentation said a majority of the reports were pre-flight but that 73 took place while a plane was in the air.
Of the cases, around 160 were classified as “hidden, undeclared [or] misdeclared.”
Most of those reports related to batteries in cargo or belonging to passengers, but there were also six cases involving weapons or munitions and two involving “perfumery.”
A total of 143 cases were catalogued involving personal electronic devices, 37 of them about vapes and 28 about power banks or chargers.
There were 21 reports logged involving mobile phones, nine about e-scooters, and four relating to laptops.
Other dangerous occurrences reported included issues with e-bikes, drills, a vacuum cleaner, a razor, and a pair of headphones.
Asked about the records, a spokesperson said: “The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) investigates safety reports in accordance with the requirements of Regulation (EU) 376/2014.
“These investigations form part of our oversight obligations of airlines and other regulated entities. Dangerous Goods falls into this category.
“The regulation ensures the confidentiality and the appropriate use of any information provided as well as protection of reporters and persons mentioned in reports. We do not reference or comment on any individual report or investigations.”
