ERJ 170/175 Captain and Flight Attendant reported there was a passenger with a lithium-Ion powered laptop in baggage that was then gate checked and placed in cargo. The checked baggage was found and the laptop removed and given to the passenger before the aircraft took off.
Synopsis
ERJ 170/175 Captain and Flight Attendant reported there was a passenger with a lithium-Ion powered laptop in baggage that was then gate checked and placed in cargo. The checked baggage was found and the laptop removed and given to the passenger before the aircraft took off.
Narrative
About eight minutes before scheduled departure the forward Flight Attendant (FA) told me that [a] passenger was asking if his baggage was on board. It would have transferred from his tight connection flight from ZZZ1. He wanted access to it to retrieve his laptop computer. Evidently in ZZZ1 cabin bin space on that airplane was full; so his bag; with laptop still within; was tagged and put in the cargo compartment. I contacted our Gate Agent and Ramp Agent concerning the passenger's bag. Most importantly that baggage could not be carried in the cargo bin with the computer and its Li battery. It took some time to search for the baggage and disposition it properly according to the airline operations procedures. The computer was removed and handed to the passenger. The flight departed about 19 minutes late.The baggage was apparently carried from ZZZ1 to ZZZ in a cargo bin. I suspect that last-minute exigencies contributed to the result that we ultimately wound up with the same bag in our cargo compartment and would have unknowingly also carried it to our destination; but didn't only because the passenger happened to want to work on his laptop during our flight. As in any similar last-minute situation; pause a moment; think; and remind oneself to ask those key questions about the baggage that are normally done without the time pressure.
Second reporter narrative
We had a passenger at the end of boarding ask us if we could make sure his checked baggage made it onto the plane. Our forward FA let him know he could check his luggage on the app. He then stated that his computer was in his last-minute checked baggage; not with him in the plane. We then realized it was a lithium-ion battery issue being in our cargo. The checked baggage was taken back at the gate in ZZZ1 where he originated from; so we let out PIC know and we began the process of finding his bag and retrieving the device. The ramp agents were able to find it and get it back to us to us and we then were able to give it to the passenger.Cause: The gate agents in ZZZ1 didn't ask him any of the questions required to be asked when gate checking baggage.Possibly adding signs or posters to each gate desk to let passengers know not to leave batteries; medicines; keys; etc. in any form of checked baggage. Even at the gate. Making sure gate agents take the time to ask those important questions before tagging bags.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.