Sun Jan 04 09:47:01 UTC 2026: News Article:
India Bans In-Flight Charging Via Power Banks Amid Lithium Battery Fire Concerns
New Delhi: India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has implemented stricter in-flight safety norms, prohibiting the use of power banks for charging electronic devices during flights. This includes charging via aircraft seat power outlets. The move comes in response to a growing number of incidents worldwide involving lithium batteries overheating or catching fire on planes.
The DGCA’s advisory emphasizes that power banks and spare lithium batteries must be carried in hand luggage and cannot be stored in overhead compartments where fires are harder to detect and control. Lithium battery fires are particularly dangerous due to their intense heat and potential to be self-sustaining.
Airlines have been directed to strengthen safety checks, enhance crew training to recognize and respond to lithium battery fire hazards, and ensure readily accessible firefighting equipment. Mandatory onboard announcements will inform passengers about the new rules, stressing the importance of reporting any device emitting heat, smoke, or unusual odors.
Airport operators are also tasked with displaying clear safety messages and videos on lithium battery fire risks at key locations like terminal entrances and security checkpoints. The DGCA issued the advisory following a rise in global incidents involving lithium batteries on aircraft, including a recent power bank fire on an IndiGo flight in Delhi and a fire on an Air Busan plane in South Korea suspected to be caused by a faulty power bank.
“Whenever the DGCA issues guidelines or rules, it keeps the safety of the people and the aircraft in mind,” Union Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu said. He added the importance of following safety guidelines to maintain safety, which is why the decision was made.
Several international airlines and countries, including Emirates and Singapore Airlines, have previously introduced similar curbs due to lithium battery-related incidents.
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