Will Flyers Be Barred From Carrying Power Banks On Board? DGCA To Take Call Soon

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is considering placing restrictions on the use of power banks on board flights after reviewing global safety practices, a senior official said.

The move

follows an incident on October 19 when a passenger’s power bank caught fire on a Dimapur-bound IndiGo flight while taxiing at Delhi airport. The cabin crew quickly extinguished the fire, and no injuries were reported.

The official told PTI that while certain restrictions may be introduced, there are currently no plans to ban power banks entirely. Decisions will be taken after examining international norms for carrying such devices onboard aircraft.

On Saturday, Union Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu had said that the DGCA would review the incident in detail. Airlines already follow strict regulations for carrying electronic items, particularly those with lithium batteries, to ensure passenger safety.

This is not the first incident involving lithium batteries on flights. Earlier this month, a battery stored in the overhead compartment of an Air China plane caught fire during a flight from Hangzhou to Seoul.

(With inputs from PTI)