AIRLINES RESTRICTING USE OF POWER BANKS

Several international airlines have made the decision to ban the use of portable chargers or power banks on board.

This comes after an Emirates Airlines flight had to make an emergency landing because of an overheated power bank that filled the passenger cabin with smoke.

The first airline to do so, Emirates, has said the banning of these portable chargers and power banks will come into effect on 1 October.

“There has been a significant growth in customers using power banks in recent years, resulting in an increasing number of lithium battery-related incidents onboard flights across the wider aviation industry.”

The airline’s new regulations allow passengers to carry one power bank that’s under 100 Wh. The power bank may not be used to charge any personal devices while on board.

Emirates has made it clear that passengers won’t be allowed to charge a power bank using the aircraft’s power supply, and all power banks accepted for transport must have capacity rating information readily available.

Another regulation stipulates that all power banks must be stored in the seat pocket or a bag under the seat in front of the passenger. No power banks are allowed to be stored in checked luggage.

Air China also recently updated its regulations to ban the use of power banks while on board an aircraft.

It’s believed that several local airlines might soon follow in their footsteps.

Image credit: CNN