New aviation safety rules are set to change how passengers use power banks during air travel.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has barred passengers from charging power banks during flights or using them with in seat power systems. The decision follows incidents involving lithium batteries catching fire mid flight. The aviation regulator has issued a dangerous goods advisory circular to airlines, tightening norms around the carriage and use of power banks.
Under the new rules, power banks and spare batteries are allowed only in hand luggage and not in overhead bins. Passengers are also prohibited from charging power banks by plugging them into in seat power supply systems provided by airlines. Power banks cannot be used to charge portable electronic devices during the flight.
The move comes after an incident in October when a passenger’s power bank reportedly caught fire while an IndiGo flight to Dimapur was taxiing for departure from Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi. No injuries were reported and the cabin crew quickly brought the fire under control.
The DGCA has instructed airlines to report all lithium battery related incidents to the regulator. Airlines must also make inflight announcements informing passengers about the new rules. Passengers have been asked to “immediately inform cabin crew if any device emits heat, smoke or an unusual odour”. Airlines must “promptly report all safety issues and occurrences related to lithium battery incidents to DGCA”.
Explaining the risks, the DGCA circular said, “The widespread usage of lithium batteries in various rechargeable devices has led to an increase in carriage of lithium batteries by air. Power banks, portable chargers, and similar devices containing lithium batteries can act as ignition sources and potentially initiate on board fires.” It added that lithium batteries kept in overhead bins or inside carry on baggage may not be easily monitored, leading to delayed detection of smoke or fire.
The advisory noted that lithium battery fires are highly energetic and can cause portable electronic devices to explode. “A lithium battery fire can be started by uncontrolled heating, overcharging, crushing or internal short circuit triggered by poor manufacturing quality, aged batteries or damage due to mishandling,” it said.
Several global airlines have already taken similar steps. Emirates Airlines banned the use of power banks on all flights last year, allowing only those below 100 watt hours to be carried without use onboard. Singapore Airlines introduced a similar policy in April last year. Other carriers such as Cathay Pacific and Qatar Airways have also placed restrictions on where power banks can be stored.
Aviation experts have also warned airlines to strictly enforce the one hand bag per passenger rule. They caution that when cabin bags are moved to the cargo hold due to space constraints, power banks inside them can pose serious safety risks if a fire goes undetected.
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