New Delhi: The recent incident of an IndiGo flight at the Chandigarh airport has drawn the concern of the Civil Aviation towards the latest power bank
rules and guidelines. The evacuation of the aircraft was conducted after a power bank reportedly caught fire inside the cabin after landing, causing smoke and panic among all the passengers on board the flight.
Following similar incidents in past, involving lithium-ion batteries, the DGCA has earlier introduced updated rules related to carrying batteries and power banks on the flight. The new rules are issued in order to reduce the risk of in-flight fires that are caused by overheating batteries and electronic devices.
DGCA’s latest rules on power banks and batteries
As per the latest guidelines of DGCA, passengers are allowed to carry power banks in only hand baggage. Storing power banks in checked-in luggage remains prohibited. The regulatory department also issued a warning to passengers to strictly avoid placing power banks and lithium batteries inside the overhead compartments during flights.
As per the DGCA instructions, the cabin crew may not be able to instantly detect smoke or overheating, causing panic and alarm to rise. Keeping the device in a handbag can easily help staff or flyers detect the issue and act on it.
Latest power bank rule for flights
One of the key changes as per the new rule are, the passengers cannot use power banks during flights to charge smartphones, laptops, tablets, smartwatches or other gadgets while onboard the flight for the safety of the passengers travelling.
The restriction also applies to charging power banks through in-seat charging ports available on some aircraft. Airlines have been instructed to inform passengers about the rule through cabin announcements before and during flights. Passengers must report to the staff in case of an overheating device or smoke in the aircraft.
The DGCA has further instructed passengers to promptly inform the cabin crew if any electronic device exhibits unusual signs such as overheating, smoke, sparks, or a burning odour.
Passengers have also been urged to store spare batteries carefully to avoid short circuits. The aviation regulator recommended keeping lithium batteries in protective pouches, covering them with plastic cases, or taping exposed terminals for safety.
