The aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has banned the use of power banks to charge phones or other devices in flight, including through in-seat sockets, following a series of global incidents where lithium batteries overheated or caught fire.
Citing “safety concerns”, Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu told NDTV that once a rule or regulation is decided, it is important to follow it to ensure safety, which is why they are introducing it.
“Whenever DGCA issues guidelines or rules, it keeps safety of people and aircraft in mind. Whatever it does, it does thorough research and thorough consultation and most of it comes from the International Civil Aviation Organization, which consults stakeholders across the world,” Naidu said.
What do the guidelines say?
Guidance issued in November last year said airlines should broadcast in-cabin announcements instructing passengers to:
- Only carry power banks and spare batteries in hand luggage.
2. Do not use or charge power banks during flight.
3. Notify the flight attendant immediately if any equipment heats up, smokes or smells unusual.
4. Ensure that power banks and spare batteries are not placed in overhead compartments, and take precautions against short circuits, such as storing lithium batteries in plastic bags, taping or covering terminals, or using protective cases.
5. Report any safety issues or incidents related to lithium batteries to the DGCA immediately
The DGCA said placing lithium batteries in overhead bins or carry-on luggage may make them difficult to see, access or track by passengers and crew. This could delay smoke or fire detection and slow down responses, increasing the risk to flight safety, he added.
Previous incidents
Last October, a power bank on a Dimapur-bound IndiGo flight reportedly caught fire while the plane was taxiing at the Delhi airport. Fortunately, the incident resulted in no injuries and all passengers and crew were unharmed.
Local authorities said a portable power bank may have started a fire that destroyed a passenger plane in South Korea in January. An Air Busan plane caught fire at Gimhae International Airport in South Korea on January 28, resulting in minor injuries to three people on board.
