Indian Government Will Not Allow Power Banks On Flight, All Details Here

India

could most probably issue new guidelines for carrying power banks on flights following multiple incidents of fire witnessed in aircraft cabins due to the same. The recent one happened in an IndiGo flight in Delhi, where a passenger's power bank caught fire. The officials have said that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is evaluating technical assessments and international precedent before drafting new instructions.

What Is The Reason Behind The Same?

Lithium-ion cells have been linked to repeated smoke and fire incidents on board airplanes. On October 19, Sunday, 2025, a Dimapur-bound IndiGo flight reported some from a passenger's power bank. Just a week before that, an Air China flight diverted because of a similar incident. This continuous series of events has made regulators think of re-examining the allowance of these kinds of devices inside aircraft cabins.Multiple global carriers have been working on making rigid norms for carrying power banks. Starting with Emirates, the airline has barred passengers from charging or using a power bank mid-flight. Travellers are supposed to carry only one unit under 100Wh, but the device cannot be used. Furthermore, Singapore Airlines has also barred charging through cabin USB ports, and the power banks should stay in seat pockets or under-seat baggage, especially not in overhead bins.Also Read: Panic Aboard IndiGo Flight After Power Bank Catches Fire During Taxi at Delhi Airport - What We KnowPeople who are familiar with the review said that the DGCA is exploring limits on quantity, restrictions on in-flight charging, fixed placement rules for storage, and mandates for visibility capacity ratings. High chances are that India may adopt overseas carriers by prohibiting active use during flight. Expectations are that the regulator will weigh operational practicality and passenger dependence on electronics against the need to reduce fire risk before stamping a new advisory. For passengers, the hassle is going to increase for sure, as once the new guidelines are here, they will have to double-check that they don't carry a power bank that is above the limit in terms of capacity. And the Airlines will be supposed to revise their safety manuals once the new guidelines are in action.