Following a ban on power banks being carried on some flights due to fire risks, airlines are now cracking down on another popular electronic device. 

Taiwanese airlines EVA Air, UNI Air and Tigerair no longer allow Bluetooth earbuds, including Apple AirPods, to be put into checked luggage.

This is because they contain a lithium battery, like power banks, and are constantly being charged when the headphones are in the case. They must now always be put in hand luggage. 

It comes following a spate of incidents involving fires on planes thought to be caused by broken power banks. 

This has led to a reevaluation of how portable chargers can be used and stored within plane cabins, as the lithium batteries contained inside can produce extreme heat if they short-circuit.

Tigerair said: 'Due to flight safety considerations, portable electronic devices such as earphone charging cases and portable electric fans with built-in lithium-ion batteries can only be carried in hand-held or carry-on formats on board the aircraft'. 

In another statement, UNI Air said: 'Bluetooth earphones (including the charging case) are classified as Portable Electronic Devices (PED).

'For safety reasons, the airline said Bluetooth earphones and their charging cases are not permitted in checked baggage and must be carried in hand luggage instead.'

The New Zealand Aviation Authority has gone one one step further and has banned them from going in checked luggage as they claim the charging case is a form of power bank, according to The Sun. 

The UK’s airline regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), does not have a ban on Bluetooth earbuds or power banks in flight cabins, but says they should never be packed into hold luggage.

However, it is advised to check the rules of each airline as it depends on the size of the lithium battery. 

Airlines tend to allow portable chargers with a watt-hour (Wh) rating of no more than 100Wh into the cabin, without their permission. 

The Wh rating must be clearly stated. 

Rules can vary, so it is best to check with the airline you’re flying with.

It comes after travellers have been warned about an overlooked mobile phone rule at airports, that could lead to it being confiscated if you do not abide by the regulation. 

 It's as simple as ensuring your device has enough battery to be able to turn on.

Airlines permit certain electronic devices in cabin baggage - such as mobile phones, laptops and tablets. 

Whether you're taking just a single device or a whole load of them, you'll need to make sure they are charged before heading through security. 

If any of them have a dead battery, you could be faced with consequences - the last thing anyone wants before a flight.

Security staff at airports are permitted to ask you to turn your devices on and confiscate them if you can't, as authorities can deem a non-functioning device a security risk.

The GOV.UK website explains: 'Make sure your electronic devices are charged before you travel. If your device does not switch on when requested, you will not be allowed to take it onto the aircraft.'