Several airlines in Asia introduce power bank bans on planes, writes CNN. The reason is a series of incidents where batteries have overheated and caused fires on board.
Many people bring a power bank, a portable battery for their phone or tablet, when they are a passenger on a plane. However, manufacturing issues, misuse and aging can increase the risk of these batteries potentially posing a fire hazard on board.
More than 500 battery incidents during flights, including smoke or fire, have occurred in the last two decades, according to the US aviation authority FAA.
Several airlines in Asia is now tightening the rules around power banks after a series of incidents where batteries have overheated and caused fires on board.
A power bank has been identified as a possible source of the fire that broke out on an Air Busan plane in January, according to South Korea's transport ministry. Investigators found "multiple electrical melting marks from the remains of a power bank battery," according to the press release.
South Korea has introduced national restrictions this month that prohibit passengers from storing power banks and e-cigarettes in the overhead compartment. Passengers must instead store them in the seat pocket or under the seat. This applies to all of the country's airlines. It is also now prohibited to charge a power bank on board by plugging it into the USB socket in the aircraft seat.
No longer allowed to use power banks on board
Since March 15, Thai Airways passengers are no longer allowed to use or charge power banks on board flights.
Starting in April, Singapore Airlines will introduce the same ban.
Air Asia will require passengers to store power banks under their seats or in the seat pocket, and will also ban charging devices during flights.
Taiwan's largest airlines, EVA Air, China Airlines and Uni Air, have also banned the use of power banks in flight.
Hong Kong's Civil Aviation Authority has announced that it will ban passengers from using power banks in-flight and storing batteries in overhead bins from April 7. It refers to a Hong Kong Airlines flight that was forced to make an emergency landing after a portable charger caused a fire in the baggage compartment.
Source: Expressen.se
