India's aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), is actively reviewing global practices concerning the carriage and usage of power banks on flights. This comes amid heightened concerns over lithium battery-related fire incidents and increasing restrictions imposed by airlines and regulators worldwide.
Chandigarh Flight Incident Prompts Review
The DGCA's current assessment was initiated days after an IndiGo flight at Chandigarh Airport was evacuated due to a power bank reportedly catching fire inside the aircraft. The incident occurred shortly after landing, with smoke filling the cabin during passenger disembarkation, leading to panic. Airport officials confirmed that six passengers sustained minor injuries, while all others were safely evacuated.
This event has brought renewed scrutiny to the safety risks posed by lithium-ion batteries during air travel, particularly within aircraft cabins where overheating devices can quickly escalate into a significant safety hazard.
Existing Regulations and Global Context
India had already tightened its regulations earlier this year. In a 'Dangerous Goods Advisory Circular' issued in January, the DGCA explicitly barred passengers from using power banks to charge phones or other electronic devices during flights, including via aircraft seat power outlets.
"The widespread usage of lithium batteries in various rechargeable devices has led to an increase in the carriage of lithium batteries by air. Power banks, portable chargers, and similar devices containing lithium batteries can act as ignition sources and potentially initiate onboard fires," the DGCA stated in its advisory.
The regulator also mandated that power banks and spare lithium batteries must only be carried in hand baggage and are strictly prohibited from being stored in overhead compartments. This directive stems from concerns that fires in such locations are difficult to detect and control quickly, and that lithium battery fires can be highly energetic and self-sustaining.
India's review aligns with a broader international trend towards stricter norms for portable chargers and lithium battery-powered devices. In March, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) advised that portable chargers should remain within passengers’ reach and not be charged onboard aircraft. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) already prohibits such devices in checked luggage, limiting passengers to carrying portable chargers only in cabin baggage.
Furthermore, several international airlines have adopted their own stringent policies. United Airlines, for instance, bars passengers from storing portable chargers in overhead bins, while some airlines in Japan and South Korea have reportedly banned the in-flight use of portable chargers entirely.
Officials indicate that the DGCA is now evaluating whether additional safeguards are necessary as passenger reliance on battery-powered devices continues to grow.